HUR Medical Concepts 2018 | Page 11

training offers numerous other advantages as well. It has clearly shown improvements in balance, functional mobility, stability limits, quality of life, and fall prevention. Strength training can attenuate age-related changes in muscle function and improve activities of daily living, such as walking endurance, gait speed, and stair climbing. Muscle mass decreases by approximately 2% every year after the age of 50. In an analogous manner, there is a decrease of approximately 15% decrease in muscle strength every 10 years after the age of 50. However, strength training can mitigate the loss of muscle mass and muscle strength. To attenuate the effects of sarcopenia, it has been recommended that older adults perform strength training 2 to 3 times per week. 11