RISKS WILL FALL

As you get older, the most common and dangerous accidents are falls – mishaps that strength training can curb the risk of by 50 per cent. If you do take a tumble, the stronger bones that come from building muscle are less likely to fracture.

Marinos explains how it works: “Resistance training not only places stress on your muscles, but also your tendons, ligaments and bones, which leads to an increase in bone mineral density (BMD). In women, BMD loss accelerates for five to seven years at the onset of menopause, after which it slows to the normal age-related rate of decline, making regular resistance training even more important.”

Yeah, we know, you’re not retirement age yet.

But, as Marinos says, build muscle now and you can spend your golden years focused on better things.