Can an elderly person increase muscle mass by excercise? thanks?

Answer 1

yes,do more weight less reps and your muscle size will increase.

Answer 2

Absolutely. There have been studies in recent years that even people in their 80's and 90's can susbstantially increase their strength and muscle mass by regular exercise, especially weight training - even if they've never exercised regularly before. I'd suggest working with a personal trainer that has experience in developing programs for older people - most gyms have someone that can help. Start gradually - but go for it.

Answer 3

I’m one of the writers for Gilbert Guide (the foremost resource for everything senior care) and I have some thoughts to share on this topic. For most elderly people, the concern is how to preserve muscle mass to protect the body from sarcopenia, or age-related muscle loss. Strength training exercise, even for adults in their 90s, not only helps them gain muscle mass and decrease the risk of falling, it can also improve their moods. Even just twenty minutes three times weekly can have dramatic effects on mobility, balance and flexibility and can also help foster a sense of autonomy. While the person may still need assistance with many activities of daily living, she will start to notice changes in what she can accomplish on her own.

Weight-training, even with light weights, is a fine way to improve muscle mass, but I recommend yoga. I recently wrote a blog on the positive effects of yoga on seniors’ minds and bodies.

Here’s an excerpt from the first blog:

“Inactivity, which is prevalent in old age, contributes to chronic pain, joint stiffness, weakness and depression, and can also cause heart disease and osteoporosis. Seniors generally require a milder form of movement to address the physical decline that accompanies aging. One of the best activities to combat all of these issues, as far as I’m concerned, is yoga. Yoga improves balance, strength, energy and mental clarity through deep, sustained breathing and a series of gentle standing and seated postures. Practitioners focus on proper spinal alignment, increasing blood circulation, calming the nervous system and helping prevent ailments like arthritis, rheumatism and incontinence. Yoga, which means “union,” incites spiritual inquiry as well as physical exploration. The practice also works wonders in combating physical signs of aging.”

You can view the entire blog at:
http://www.gilbertguide.com/blog/2006/11/21/yoga-for-seniors-stretching-your-memory/

As with any fitness routine, it’s best to get your doctor’s approval before beginning and to verify the credentials of the person from whom you seek instruction. I hope this information helps.

The Gilbert Guide Team

Answer 4

Absolutely. Plus a ton of other benefits like lower cholesterol, lower blood pressure, increased bone density, etc... However if you have never done any resistance training, you may want to get some professional instruction.

Answer 5

Absolutely. It is important for frail people to be closely supervised to minimize the risk of injury. Regaining muscle mass and coordination crucial to rehabilitation and physical therapy.

Answer 6

Yes, there is a few ladies past 70 that I know that go to a gym 3 times a week and are slowly doing so.

Answer 7

Yes, everyone can.


I learn in personal fitness yesterday that elderly people only shrink in size because they don't maintain their exercise.... I thought that was cool.

Answer 8

Yes, look at arnold Schwarzeneggar, Mr. T and Sylvester Stylone. They are close to elderly and look at them

Answer 9

Barbell curls and sitting preacher curls with heavy weight and do 4 units of 6 repetitions with the heaviest weight you need to use and the 6th repetition you should just about fail being capable to curl it.

Answer 10

barbell curls and sitting preacher curls with heavy weight and do 4 gadgets of 6 repetitions with the heaviest weight you need to use and the 6th repetition you will desire to almost fail being waiting to curve it.