How much strength training do you really need to live longer? Not much
Key Points:
- Traditional exercise advice emphasized aerobic activities like walking, running, cycling, and swimming for longevity and heart health, while strength training was mainly associated with muscle building and sports performance.
- Recent research is shifting the perspective on resistance training, recognizing it as a key component of mainstream preventive health rather than just fitness enhancement.
- The American College of Sports Medicine updated its resistance-training guidelines for the first time since 2009, incorporating findings from 137 systematic reviews involving over 30,000 participants.
- The updated position highlights the benefits of resistance training on strength, muscle size, power, endurance, movement speed, and overall physical function in healthy adults.