The anti-aging secret for your muscles

The anti-aging secret for your muscles

The idea of getting older is disliked by all of us. So much so that the “anti-ageing” industry is experiencing growth right throughout the world. You’ve probably heard about “anti-ageing” for your skin, but what about for your muscles? If you want to stand tall and stay active as you age, read on.

“As we age, we begin to lose muscle mass. In fact, after the age of 30, we begin to lose as much as three to eight per cent per decade and this rate of decline is even higher after the age of 60,” physiotherapist Nick Nicolaidis said. “As we lose muscle mass, we become more susceptible to falls and injury which contributes to a loss of independence and a poorer quality of life.”

“Sarcopenia is a condition that affects 10 to 30 per cent of older adults living in the community and as a physiotherapist I am often surprised that so few of my clients have heard of it.” Sarcopenia is defined as the gradual reduction in skeletal muscle over a period of time and is found in individuals over the age of 50.

The main symptom of the development of sarcopenia is weakness. This may lead to a loss of stamina, difficulty balancing, worsening ability to complete activities of daily living, decreased sport performance and consequently, an overall loss of confidence.

The best way to fight the effects of sarcopenia is to keep your muscles active – if you don’t use it, you lose it! Combinations of aerobic exercise, resistance training and balance training can prevent and even reverse muscle loss. 

Resistance exercise places tension on your muscle fibres resulting in growth signals that leads to increased strength. Improvements in strength, muscle mass and function can be achieved at any age, even right into our 90s. 

Despite the clear efficacy in increasing muscle mass, 87 per cent of older adults describe perceiving at least one barrier to their participation in physical activity. These barriers often surround concerns over these adults’ own physical competence and safety in completing exercises. The majority lack confidence in their physical ability and feel self-conscious in traditional gym environments. 

Kieser is a unique physiotherapy and strength training facility. We aim to shift the paradigm of traditional fitness training by taking away the barriers for clients of all ages, providing older clients with a safe and supportive environment in which to improve their strength and physical function. “This is one of the reasons why I love working at Kieser,” Mr Nicolaidis said.

Kieser has a clinic 300 metres from Southern Cross Station at the corner of King and Collins streets •

To learn more about Kieser, call 9448 9999 or visit: kieser.com.au 

Since Labor has been in power …

Since Labor has been in power …

March 20th, 2024 - Evan Mulholland
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