Lift weights (gently) to help you power through old age

DOCTORS should start to look at muscle power as a measure of health in the elderly, according to the latest data.

Research presented at this year’s European Society of Cardiology showed that higher muscle power is linked to a reduced risk of dying from all causes.

But this is not about lifting the heaviest weights in the gym: power rather than strength is gained from repeatedly lifting moderate weights at speed. It is still not clear why muscle power specifically has such a strong protective effect against dying, although we know that muscles get weaker as we age and power is needed to get out of a chair, kick a ball and pick up shopping bags.

What is clear is that lifting weights is not just for body-builders but for everyone heading into old age.