As
we age, we lose muscle strength. If we lose enough, it can
become difficult to do some of the simple, everyday activities
we're accustomed to doing, like getting dressed in the morning,
taking a bath, eating a meal, even walking from one place
to the next.
Maintaining as much muscle strength as possible may help
avoid or postpone these frustrating problems later in life.
According to a study published in the Journal of the American
Medical Association, men with good hand grip strength
in "midlife" (45 + years old when the measurements
were taken) reported much less disability related to muscle
strength 20 years later. Specifically, men with weak original
hand grip measurements had more trouble with household work,
slower walking speed, and more difficulty dressing, bathing,
eating, etc., than men with strong grip strength measurements.
What's this all mean? Working to keep your muscle strength
now might mean having more muscle strength (and less frustration)
later. These findings are especially important because grip
strength seems to be a good general indicator of strength
in other areas of the body.
Ask your chiropractor about measuring your hand grip strength,
and ask about appropriate exercises that can help you improve
and maintain muscle strength throughout life.
Reference:
Rantanen T, Guralnik JM, Foley D, et al. Midlife hand grip
strength as a predicator of old age disability. Journal
of the American Medical Association, February 10, 199:
Vol.281, No.6, pp558-560.
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