Why should someone add muscle to their body? The short answer: It’s great for your health.
Keep in mind that I’m not talking about huge amounts of muscle. Sometimes people think of oversized bodybuilders when they hear the word “muscle.” I’m referring to smaller amounts added to people who want to be generally healthy and active.
A lot has been written about the “obesity epidemic,” but you don’t often hear about “sarcopenia”—a gradual loss of muscle mass and strength.
This condition is more common in the elderly, but many people start losing muscle in their 30s.
In fact, Webmd.com states that inactive people can lose between three and five percent of their muscle mass in every decade after they turn 30.
This might not seem like a big deal, but if you lose muscle, you’ll lose the ability to perform tasks. You’ll also become more prone to injury. The ability to live independently may no longer be an option.
But there’s great news: Strength training works at any age.
When you’re younger, you can use it to build muscle. When you’re in your 30s, you can still add muscle if you train properly, and you can definitely slow the inevitable loss of muscle as you age. People in their 70s can add muscle and gain strength, too, even if they won’t do it as quickly as they did when they were younger.
I’ve outlined some of the benefits of adding muscle:
Muscle increases your ability to do everyday tasks: when you’re strong, you won’t struggle to pick up the kids, move that box or just stand up. And, related to that, you’ll feel a sense of confidence because you know you’re physically able to do lots of things.
Muscle prevents injuries: if your muscles and bones are weak, it’s much easier to damage them. Unbalanced and weak muscles leave your joints unprotected. If you have a good amount of muscle, you’ll avoid a host of injuries.
Muscle helps preserve a healthy body weight: having more muscle allows you to burn more calories at rest, which makes it harder to gain excess weight. Besides, people with strong muscles are generally active because they like to use them in fun activities, which makes it even harder to add body fat.
Muscle improves posture and prevents aches and pains: as you lose muscle, your body can start to “sag,” and that causes all kinds of problems. Think about someone whose rounded shoulders cause a lot of pain. If you build some muscle, you’ll add a ton of “support structure,” and your body will feel great.
Muscles helps you perform better in sports: if you enjoy playing any sport, muscle will help you get better results (and avoid injuries, too). You’ll be stronger, faster and more powerful.
Muscle has aesthetic benefits: some people don’t care about this at all. But others really appreciate the way they look when they carry some muscle.
Muscle building has mental-health benefits: studies have suggested that strength training can boost self-esteem and help people deal with depression, anxiety and stress. Strength training has no negative side effects, and you can even train with a partner or in a group to make it a super-fun social experience.
Moral of the story: a little muscle goes a long way toward a healthier, happier life.
Dr. Brian Strump is a chiropractor and owner of Live Active Charlotte, a CrossFit/functional fitness gym located in the Steele Creek area of Charlotte.
If you’re interested in making a change in your health or simply have questions, you can learn more about Brian and his staff by visting: https://liveactiveclt.com/.
