Professor Encourages Seniors to Pick Up Weights to Combat Frailty

A study from University of British Columbia Okanagan Professor Jenn Jakobi in the Journal of Frailty & Aging demonstrates that strength training with free-weights that gradually builds intensity can combat declining health associated with aging, reports Medical Xpress . Jakobi's lab assessed 21 women over the age of 65 before they became frail, split into two groups. One cohort participated in a progressively intense free-weight exercise program three times weekly for 12 weeks, with a regimen that mimicked movements of normal life, and which may become difficult for some as they get older. The second cohort maintained their normal routines, with measurements of muscle strength and performance compared after the 12-week course. The exercise group improved their muscle performance and reduced their frailty, without injury. "Traditionally, older adults opt for low-intensity, and low-resistance exercise because they believe that heavy free-weight exercise isn't right for them," Jakobi noted. "Our findings show the opposite."