How muscles change with age

Muscle performance declines with age, regardless of one’s health status, activity level, or motivation, however this course may be slowed by specific types of strength training. Physiologic changes begin to occur in our 30’s, but do not pose a serious threat to one’s mobility until ~age 60. Consequently, impairments of decreased strength, power, endurance and balance can emerge, all affecting functional ability. Every day tasks such as household chores and personal care are eventually impacted. As muscle function declines in the elderly, there is an obvious increase risk of falls, fracture with a downward decline in function and activity. Fortunately, the aging muscle is plastic and adapts to positively to strength training with the end result of improved function.

The physiological changes in muscle performance are related to a complicated cascade of events that appear independent of activity decline. This decline can be stemmed by increasing activity, specifically high intensity strength training. It is also apparent that this type of activity should be fostered in youth through the ages as most of the reported functional decline in muscle performance factors were minimized when individuals maintained a high level of activity throughout their life span. Functional decline starts to occur as early as the third decade of life without functional implications until after the age of 60, thus early education and good exercise and activity habits can be beneficial to maintain functional independence as we age. The Physical Therapist is uniquely positioned to promote this type of behavior in rehabilitation from injury or disease. Given the challenges our country faces in the midst of an obesity epidemic the Physical Therapist can serve in a position of health promotion and wellness advocate to decrease the risk associated with age related changes in muscle performance as it relates to impairment and functional disability.