In 2011, an elderly women by the name of Ernestine Shepherd successfully deadlifted twice her body weight during a heavyweight lifting competition, and by age of 75 she earned herself the Guinness World Record for oldest female bodybuilder. Some may argue that a healthy lifestyle contributed to her accomplishments, yet she began weight-bearing exercise at 71 years of age. Despite Shepard’s feat, specialists continue to be skeptical of the benefits high impact and weight bearing exercise has among senior citizens. High impact exercise, weight bearing exercise, or resistance training is characterized by forces being applied to the musculoskeletal system and is attributed to reduction of injuries in sports (Andreoli). Shepherd may just be an outlier
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“I’ve fallen and can’t get up!” has been a phrase repeatedly joked about by a younger generation in previous years, yet for seniors it is a frightening situation. On a fuzzy television screen, a fragile elderly woman is pictured collapsed on the tile floor of a bathroom, unable to move. These falls are likely due to the deterioration of muscle mass that comes with aging and lack of physical activity (Andreoli). As the muscles become weaker, the ability to hold the body up becomes a much more difficult task. In some instances, seniors may not be suffering from osteoporosis at all, yet muscle atrophy is another prevalent issue amongst the population. When postural muscles such as the erector spinae and rectus abdominis (located along the spine and abdomen) begin to deplete, one’s ability to balance and coordinate movements becomes more difficult (Mackelvie et al). With failing coordination, falls may become a frequent occurrence and the likelihood of a serious injury greatly increases. In a study following seniors that participated in Olympic and high impact sports, they showed high muscle density and experienced very few falls. Brain scans that have been conducted in various studies show that in inactive seniors the cerebellum shrinks which corresponds to lack of balance and coordination when compared to active seniors (Heinonen et al). Meanwhile, the …show more content…
Like everything else, age also takes a toll on our minds and many diseases are likely to develop including Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s. Aside from diseases that can develop, general function of the brain begins to deplete and we begin to walk, talk, and respond to stimuli at a much slower rate. The brain begins to shrink, nerve endings begin to die, and the neurotransmitters that control nearly everything in our body from emotions to bodily functions are reduced (Goodwin). One of the neurotransmitters that may be reduced in the aging process is dopamine, which can be used to control motor functions and when reduced like in patients with Parkinson’s results in uncontrollable tremors throughout the body. In one study, exercise, specifically resistance training, has been shown to help reduce the effects of Parkinson’s and reduction continues when compared to a control group after 12 months (Corcos). Throughout the lifespan, exercise has also been shown to improve quality of life because of the endorphins that physical activity produces and it also improves memory and lowers the rate at which the brain shrinks. Most of the brain functions that could deplete over the lifespan, could be reversed by adding some form of weight bearing or resistance training exercise to an individual’s daily tasks (Corcos). The reason for these styles of exercise having
“I’ve fallen and can’t get up!” has been a phrase repeatedly joked about by a younger generation in previous years, yet for seniors it is a frightening situation. On a fuzzy television screen, a fragile elderly woman is pictured collapsed on the tile floor of a bathroom, unable to move. These falls are likely due to the deterioration of muscle mass that comes with aging and lack of physical activity (Andreoli). As the muscles become weaker, the ability to hold the body up becomes a much more difficult task. In some instances, seniors may not be suffering from osteoporosis at all, yet muscle atrophy is another prevalent issue amongst the population. When postural muscles such as the erector spinae and rectus abdominis (located along the spine and abdomen) begin to deplete, one’s ability to balance and coordinate movements becomes more difficult (Mackelvie et al). With failing coordination, falls may become a frequent occurrence and the likelihood of a serious injury greatly increases. In a study following seniors that participated in Olympic and high impact sports, they showed high muscle density and experienced very few falls. Brain scans that have been conducted in various studies show that in inactive seniors the cerebellum shrinks which corresponds to lack of balance and coordination when compared to active seniors (Heinonen et al). Meanwhile, the …show more content…
Like everything else, age also takes a toll on our minds and many diseases are likely to develop including Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s. Aside from diseases that can develop, general function of the brain begins to deplete and we begin to walk, talk, and respond to stimuli at a much slower rate. The brain begins to shrink, nerve endings begin to die, and the neurotransmitters that control nearly everything in our body from emotions to bodily functions are reduced (Goodwin). One of the neurotransmitters that may be reduced in the aging process is dopamine, which can be used to control motor functions and when reduced like in patients with Parkinson’s results in uncontrollable tremors throughout the body. In one study, exercise, specifically resistance training, has been shown to help reduce the effects of Parkinson’s and reduction continues when compared to a control group after 12 months (Corcos). Throughout the lifespan, exercise has also been shown to improve quality of life because of the endorphins that physical activity produces and it also improves memory and lowers the rate at which the brain shrinks. Most of the brain functions that could deplete over the lifespan, could be reversed by adding some form of weight bearing or resistance training exercise to an individual’s daily tasks (Corcos). The reason for these styles of exercise having