OLDER ADULTS CAN still get pumped up, according to data from more than 1,300 people ages 50 and above. After 20 weeks of resistance training, which involves moving muscles against an opposing force, participants gained an average of about 2 1/2 pounds of lean muscle mass. Sedentary adults are at risk of losing almost half a pound of muscle a year, which can hinder mobility and lead to a loss of independence. The most effective strength training, the study found, gradually increases the weight and number of sets during workouts. Stockpiling muscle early in life, the authors say, can hedge against muscle loss later.
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