Resistance training 'fights muscle loss'

Older people should take up resistance exercise in order to build up their muscle strength, experts have suggested, which could make them less likely to require assisted living as they age.

The Chartered Society of Physiotherapy recommends that older people take up resistance exercise, which involves wall press-ups, exercise bands or weights, controlled sit to stand exercises or using body weight by doing semi-squats.

Vicky Johnston, of the organisation, explained that muscle strength lessens from around the fourth decade of life.

"The decline in muscle strength is accelerated by sedentary behaviour and disease, however, it is never too late to start exercise as even the most frail can benefit from exercise targeting the major functional muscle groups," she said.

Research from the University of Michigan revealed that adults are able to fight against the muscle loss that accompanies ageing through resistance training.

However, it is believed that those who are sedentary beyond the age of 50 lose up to 0.4 pounds of muscle per year.

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