No excuses. Lift weights at any age! Advice from a 65 year old.
A post by Abby Halpin, DPT
Yes, we are physical therapists, but we don’t just help people get back to where they were before an injury. We also help people level up after rehab. As experts of the human movement system, we pay attention to what is good for it, and we teach it. Muscle loss as we age is a huge problem. It affects our mobility, confidence, puts us at risk for falls, and decreases our longevity. I recently came across this article in the New York Times, and thought, why not have a client tell her story.
Kristin, a participant in Movement Systems fitness programming, was interviewed to share her experience with weight training as a 65 year old.
(Abby) What is your favorite strength training exercise and why?
(Kristin) “Deadlifting is my favorite. That’s been a vast surprise to me since I never thought I’d do free weights, let alone deadlift. Being the age I am (65), I grew up thinking deadlifting was for hunky guys in sweaty, competitive gyms. So wrong! I’ve found that I love how deadlifting makes me concentrate totally, both physically and mentally. It is thrilling to feel myself getting stronger, and to measure my progress by the increasing weight I can lift.”
What led you to begin your strength training program?
“I was in a serious car accident and started physiotherapy with Abby in early 2017. I’ve always been physically active, but I lost a lot of strength during my recovery so when physiotherapy ended I started doing physical training with her. I also needed to do more weight-bearing exercise to prevent bone loss as I age. Training one-on-one with Abby, who knows my body quirks and can cheerfully push and encourage me, has been immensely helpful. I started my physiotherapy with two-pound weights. Now I can deadlift 145 pounds!”
Have you noticed a change in how you move about your day since beginning your weightlifting routine?
“I love feeling stronger. And lifting things in everyday life – from heavy shopping bags to suitcases and boxes of books – is much easier. I’m more conscious about my overall posture/alignment and it has improved. And I’m less afraid of injuring myself.”
What has surprised you the most about strength training?
“What has surprised me most about deadlifting in particular is how almost meditative it can be since it needs such physical and mental focus. As I lift heavier weights, I’m working on and appreciating the mental/emotional side of it, how it fosters the need to be positive and believe you can do it. It’s wonderful to talk positively to one’s self.”
Is there anything else about your lifting life you’d like to share?
“It’s a cliche, but you truly are never too old to start. Your body and brain will thank you.”
—
If you are interested in learning how you can safely and confidently begin strength training, consult a physical therapist. We are equipped to perform health screening prior to beginning a program, and we are experts in exercise prescription for the human movement system.
