The other weekend I attended the Manitoba Fitness Council’s conference. One of the main presenters, Christine van der Hoek emphasized the importance of Lifting for Longevity. Although an endurance athlete, she stated that the key to Longevity is Resistance Training and NOT Cardio. As we age, fast twitch muscle decline and Scarponia (loss of muscle mass) is prevalent. As strength is the foundation for all forms of activity the need to focus on fast twitch muscle fibers becomes a necessity. The most effective way to preserve muscle mass is to focus on POWER - either through Heavy Lifting or Going Fast. Here’s the formula for Power;
POWER = LOAD/FORCE + VELOCITY/SPEED
Fast twitch muscle training not only alters skeletal muscle, but is also more metabolically active and can contribute to improvements in body composition, improving reaction time (less falls), and overall improved quality of life.
Muscle growth is important for movement and longevity, and it's your nervous system that dictates the size and strength of your muscles. Movement is governed by the relationship between the nervous system, neurons, and their connection to muscle. A nerve stimulus is needed to make the muscles want to change and focusing on your fast twitch muscles increases this stimulus. As we improve muscle quality, it changes how your entire body works - the nervous system, muscular system, immune system and internal organs. I
The key to good quality health is Resistance Training - something we should always be striving for.
So Use it!
Doug
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