Any resistance-based exercise which includes weightlifting, is an excellent way to maintain muscle strength, muscle mass, and encourage good health with age. Most people shy away from weightlifting as they get older because they think it can be damaging, but this isn’t true! All it takes is a little more care and consideration.
As long as you consult either a physiotherapist or personal trainer, seniors can safely lift weights and enjoy all the benefits that come along with it! Here are our top 10 weightlifting tips for people over the age of 50 from our expert Eric Leckie…
Do a Warm up and Cool Down
The key to avoiding injury and building muscle is to get a good warm in up before you start your workout. The sign of a good workout is if you’re able to break a sweat. This shows that your muscles are nice and warm, and ready to go! If you don’t warm them up before a workout, you’ll be more prone to injury or stiffness afterwards.
Just as warm ups are important, so are cool downs. Unfortunately, most people skip this part of a workout but it’s one of the most important. Cool downs allow the heart rate to slowly return back to normal and help prepare the body for proper recovery after any exercise session, particularly one with weightlifting. Aim for a 5-minute walk on a treadmill or even just 5-minutes of stretching.
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