Autonomy is a highly valued commodity for anyone at any age, but especially as a person grows older. The desire for independence is not only fueled by that natural tendency, but also a lifetime of self-sufficiency. We all know the increasing need for geriatric care as the baby-boomers age and the issues of how to take care of those who cannot take care of themselves. A study done by McMaster University in Ontario, Canada studied how 42 weeks of exercise affected 119 men and women between the ages of 60 and 80. This and other studies will add a lot of beneficial information in providing a better life-style for older people.
The group was divided into the training group which weight lifted twice a week and the control group that participated in a twice-weekly low-intensity walking program. At the beginning of the experiment men were stronger and had greater endurance then women, but both sexes experienced the same amount of improvement in strength and endurance. The training group experienced increased strength by 20-65%, increased maximum power output by 7.1% and endurance on the stair climber by a huge 57%! Although the control group experienced increase in the same areas, they did not increase nearly the amount that the training group did. Strength and endurance continued to increase through the 42 weeklong experiment, especially in the first 6 weeks. This experiment is also very beneficial for women, who fall prone to osteoporoses more then men as they age. Overall, this information is very encouraging for those aging that want to maintain their independence or for those who would like to decrease the chance of premature injury or loss of autonomy.
