LUKA KOVACEVIC: Recently I have lost one client because her doctor said that over the age of 65 resistance training doesn’t have any benefit on bones (she suffers from Osteoporosis). She advised her balance training (working on balance only). I was trying to explain to her many other resistance tr. benefits but… she left the gym dissapointed.
My question is: “Is that true?” In my opinion, that’s the wrong statement.
CHARLES STALEY: The vast bulk of the available research, along with anecdotal evidence runs counter to this doctor’s opinion — resistance training has been shown to significantly improve bone density, as well as a host of other benefits including improved muscle mass and strength, just to name a few.
I have a 76 year old client who started training with me when he was 67 (and who now competes in powerlifting competitions by the way) who recently had a bone scan at a local health fair. His results? His bone density was too high for their instruments to measure.
Of course, the resistance training must be intelligently applied, but I wonder what this doctor feels is the preferred alternative to resistance training — perhaps it is NOT training?
LUKA KOVACEVIC: So, coaches should advise about exercising and doctors about “health” (medicaments) 🙂 … There is a bunch of basic strength exercises (except big compound lifts which are the best) that can “kill 2 birds with 1 stone” (strength – not max of course, and balance). Take a “split squat” or “step up” as an example…
“One of the signs of a great teacher is the ability to make the subject matter seem simple. Charles Staley is one of these rare teachers. After listening and talking to him, you suddenly achieve a new awareness of training. You go to the gym and, suddenly, everything makes sense, and you wonder why you haven’t been doing it his way since day one.” – Muscle Media 2000 magazine August, 1999 Prominent both the United States and across the globe, Charles is recognized as an insightful coach and innovator in the field of human performance. His knowledge, skills and reputation have lead to appearances on NBC’s The TODAY Show and The CBS Early Show, along with numerous radio appearances. He has also authored more than a thousand articles for leading fitness publications and websites, and has lectured to eager audiences around the World. Charles is not only a thinker, but also a doer: At age 54, he competes in the sport of raw powerlifting, and is a 3-time World Champion (220 and 198-pound weight classes).