It’s a common refrain that as you get older, things just don’t work the same.
Many just take it as a fact of life. Inevitable even. But have you ever wondered what is really going on as you get older? Well let’s just look at your muscles for starters.
It has been studied that after the age of 30, you will lose between 3-8% of your muscle mass each decade after. That’s not even the worst part, it has also been observed that the decline will accelerate for a person after the age of 60. That means as you get older, if you do not actively try to improve your strength, you will naturally get weaker.
The scientific term is called Sarcopenia. This is the bodily process that occurs in everybody.
This is where muscle fibers in our bodies start to shrink, decrease in number and regenerate more slowly when injured. Studies also show that the very nature of our muscle fibers change. They become more fibrous and evolve to become more like connective tissue and less like the vibrant, red muscle fibers we commonly associate with healthy tissue.
So you may be asking yourself, why does this matter? Well here’s just a small sample of reasons how this might affect your health:
Difficulty Performing Daily Tasks
This can show up as having difficulties going up and down stairs or walking as long/far as you used to. Perhaps, you may have more difficulties lifting things, like pets or children like you used to.
You Look Smaller
As sarcopenia progresses with time, you may physically appear smaller.
This is often why people look skinnier as they age. They are physically getting smaller as the accumulated loss of muscle mass occurs over time.
Loss of Vitality/ Energy
Your muscles are important warehouses of energy and metabolism for your entire body. For example in men, muscles are integral to the production and regulation of the hormon, Testosterone. Testosterone levels are very much related to a man’s energy levels and overall sense of vitality
Balance and Fall Prevention
- As everyone ages, balance can decline and falls become more of a
concern. What’s important to note here is that loss of muscles may not be
the direct cause of poor balance and falls but indirect. Meaning that the very
things you would do to maintain or improve muscle mass as you age are
the very things that can help your balance and protect you during a fall.
This is the exact reason that we commonly discuss diet and exercise with our patients in the clinic. Almost everyone is interested in knowing how to age healthily. Maybe they have experienced it themselves or seen the affects of aging in their loved ones.
The moral of the story is this process is natural and will occur in everyone. But it doesn’t mean it has to affect everyone the same. Just understanding the issue and making small steps like exercising more can go a long way to improving your health. No matter how old you are.
Just a thought.
Yours in health.
Peakform Team
PS - If you need help with an issue or perhaps you feel like it’s time for a ‘tune up’. Our team is ready to help. Give us a call!
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