(August 28, 2011) The human being has a wealth of positive physical attributes. Many of these characteristics are not fully appreciated until aging has a detrimental effect upon their qualities. The gradual loss of sight and dental problems becomes apparent as we age. The slow loss of muscle mass, one of the physical attributes we lose, may not become apparent if one tends to avoid physical activity. We hear the words, “I can’t do what I use to do physically,” more and more as the aging process takes place in those around us.
In our society today, many people follow a pattern of little or no physical exercise. A condition known as Sarcopenia starts at the approximate age of forty. Sarcopenia is defined as the slow wasting away of one’s muscle mass. The estimation for Sarcopenia’s progress is .5% loss of the body’s muscle mass per year after forty. At the approximate age of 60, the loss is estimated to increases to 1% per year.
How do these numbers relate to the loss of balance with the aging individual? The muscle mass first lost in the human body is in the lower extremities. These are the muscle groups used to correct when the brain detects an in-balance and a fall may occur. It is estimated that thirty percent of people age of sixty five or over will experience a potential harmful fall cause by physiological in-balances.
The solution(s) for human physiological imbalance problems are not difficult to find. Strength Training, Tai Chi and dance are all forms of exercises offered through many community organizations. The human body will respond to many form of exercise to regain muscle mass and reestablish those balance muscle.
