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Sarcopenia

wabmester
wabmester Posts: 2,748 Member
edited November 2024 in Social Groups
Your word of the day: Sarcopenia

Sarcopenia (from Greek σάρξ sarx, "flesh" and πενία penia, "poverty") is the degenerative loss of skeletal muscle mass (0.5–1% loss per year after the age of 50), quality, and strength associated with aging.

Over 50 and don't feel like exercising? Here's what happens:

Muscle-Scan-74YO.jpg
(quadriceps of a sedentary 74 year old)

Over 50 and exercising your butt off? Good for you! Here's what happens:

Muscle-Scan-70YO.jpg
(quadriceps of a 70 year old triathlete)

Images stolen from here:
http://healthreadings.com/sarcopenia-are-we-doomed-to-age-related-muscle-loss/

Replies

  • Sajyana
    Sajyana Posts: 518 Member
    Holy crap! I'll be 50 next year. I don't exercise much. I need to fix that. A bit of a shock to start my day. I needed that. Thank you.
  • Foamroller
    Foamroller Posts: 1,041 Member
    Now, that's what I call persuasiveness :D From everything I read so far about health, aging etc. Loss of muscle mass, ie. not using the muscle we have, seems closely related to most of the detrimental effects of ageing: Less functioning glucose metabolism, beta cell dysfunction, insulin resistance.

    Anecdotal: Someone's grandma was well into her 90's. She was from Switzerland and went hiking up the mountain every day. I never met such an old person who was mentally clear like that. Most people start to get fuzzy brains somewhere in their 70's.

    If Big Pharma could put the effects of exercise into a pill, that would change the world. So far, pharmaceuticals have no way near the same benefits as the body can do when put under pressure. Probably cause a pill only look at ONE side of the coin. The body is a high-tech biochemistry facility that keeps things in balance, provided you give it the the right nutrition AND physical challenge, IMO. They work syngergistically together. Exercise is an investment in FUTURE health and wellbeing. Sure, there are days I don't wanna go out when raining or whatever excuse I used to have. But hands on, I NEVER EVER regretted a training session. It always leaves me happy with myself after.

    I started with a goal of 20 mins/day. Now I'm doing 1-2 hrs. So make very small (no excuse) goals :) If your starting point is 5 mins, so be it! Baybysteps.

    The secret of training the body is, as far as I understood it, NOT the "calorie burn" but the hormonal response physical activity forces the body to do. This is why I always recommend a varied intensity program too, it's what the body likes best.
  • inspirationstation
    inspirationstation Posts: 209 Member
    Cool. Thanks for sharing.
  • deksgrl
    deksgrl Posts: 7,237 Member
    Another way I visualize this is: I'm 52. My current Harley weighs 489 pounds. The one I want to buy is 710 pounds. Wanting to ride it into my 70's, getting it out of the garage by myself..... priceless.
  • mlinton_mesapark
    mlinton_mesapark Posts: 517 Member
    Thanks, @wabmester! A picture's worth a thousand words, indeed. Filing this in my mental image bank for when I feel my motivation waning.
  • GaleHawkins
    GaleHawkins Posts: 8,159 Member
    Yes thanks for sharing.
  • KnitOrMiss
    KnitOrMiss Posts: 10,103 Member
    Foamroller wrote: »
    Now, that's what I call persuasiveness :D From everything I read so far about health, aging etc. Loss of muscle mass, ie. not using the muscle we have, seems closely related to most of the detrimental effects of ageing: Less functioning glucose metabolism, beta cell dysfunction, insulin resistance.

    Anecdotal: Someone's grandma was well into her 90's. She was from Switzerland and went hiking up the mountain every day. I never met such an old person who was mentally clear like that. Most people start to get fuzzy brains somewhere in their 70's.

    If Big Pharma could put the effects of exercise into a pill, that would change the world. So far, pharmaceuticals have no way near the same benefits as the body can do when put under pressure. Probably cause a pill only look at ONE side of the coin. The body is a high-tech biochemistry facility that keeps things in balance, provided you give it the the right nutrition AND physical challenge, IMO. They work syngergistically together. Exercise is an investment in FUTURE health and wellbeing. Sure, there are days I don't wanna go out when raining or whatever excuse I used to have. But hands on, I NEVER EVER regretted a training session. It always leaves me happy with myself after.

    I started with a goal of 20 mins/day. Now I'm doing 1-2 hrs. So make very small (no excuse) goals :) If your starting point is 5 mins, so be it! Baybysteps.

    The secret of training the body is, as far as I understood it, NOT the "calorie burn" but the hormonal response physical activity forces the body to do. This is why I always recommend a varied intensity program too, it's what the body likes best.

    I say even adding in a few seconds (stepping quickly in place at one's desk!) or minutes (bathroom exercises) are good ways to start adding little things back in. Some arm circles or wall pushups when you go to the bathroom are good ways to sneak things in on yourself. Bodyweight exercises are my main focus right now...
  • nvmomketo
    nvmomketo Posts: 12,019 Member
    Wow. oh wow.
    As a sedentary 41 year old, I think I would be horrified by my quads. Eek.

    I've got a plan to change it that I'll be starting soon... I think I might print out those pictures and tape it to my wall for motivation. Thank you.
  • Sabine_Stroehm
    Sabine_Stroehm Posts: 19,251 Member
    Very cool thanks!
  • deksgrl
    deksgrl Posts: 7,237 Member
    ernestine%20shepherd%20before%20and%20after%2012.jpg

    Ernestine Shepherd, born June 16, 1936
  • mlinton_mesapark
    mlinton_mesapark Posts: 517 Member
    These people are AMAZING! Thanks for the great posts!
  • camtosh
    camtosh Posts: 898 Member
    My father retired at 65, sat in his easy chair, and barely got out of it until he became wheelchair bound at about 75. He then lived another 20 years, rolling from bed to toilet to dining table and back again.... He just refused to walk anywhere, and eventually became unable to. I swear I will still be walking upright till my dying day! or at least die trying.
  • drjulieann2
    drjulieann2 Posts: 5 Member
    Thank you for sharing these images and the videos. It is what I needed this morning. ;)
  • Foamroller
    Foamroller Posts: 1,041 Member
    edited July 2015
    deksgrl wrote: »

    Omg. From the article:
    In addition to lifting more than twice her weight, Murphy can do one-handed pull-ups, one-handed pushups, fingertip pushups, and the pushups where you put your fingers in diamond formation and press your nose all the way to the floor.

    I can't do ANY of that! Rofl, good shares in this thread of all the oldies spanking my butt fitness wise :)
  • deksgrl
    deksgrl Posts: 7,237 Member
    I know, and the fact that she just walked in and started with 5 pound weights a few years ago and is entirely self taught. Kind of makes people's excuses sound lame.
  • Foamroller
    Foamroller Posts: 1,041 Member
    I'm trying to increase strength, neuro-muscular recruitment. I'm still so weak in upper body. Bought hand grippers yday, cause I wanna work up to do Hanging Leg Raises, Human Flag and lift properly etc later on.

    So I'm doing "Grease the Groove" method advocated by Tsatsouline. It's tensing grip, abs and glutes max 5x with at least 15 mins pause in between. So far I'm just doing it whenever I'm getting up from sofa etc.

    Pavel Tsatsouline on GTG, optimal rep count and rest duration for strength
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JmOEgK5o2yg

    For a more detailed interview with Tsatsouline on the Tim Ferriss podcast:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pTFMN3hCNws
This discussion has been closed.