The first ever Strength-Training Awareness Day on Thursday 4 April aims to raise the profile of strength training with positive stories on social media using the hashtag #StrongEnough.
A University of Salford researcher is on a mission to get more people over the age of 40 to take up strength training to help people to age more healthily.
Ashley Gluchowski, a University Fellow at the University of Salford and a Clinical Exercise Physiologist, has partnered with Greater Manchester Moving to raise awareness of the benefits of participating in strength training.
Research conducted by Ashley alongside Greater Manchester Moving investigated the barriers to strength training and how to support people aged 40 to 60 years old in the city region to move more.
The findings have led Ashley to publish a list of 11 guidelines (see below) to support leisure providers, workplaces, and the health sector when promoting strength-based activities.
Now, they’re encouraging everyone to raise awareness of the benefits of strength training by sharing their strength training stories on social media with the hashtag #StrongEnough on Thursday 4 April.
In addition to increased muscle, bone, and joint health, the benefits of strength training include improved mental health, concentration, energy, sleep, endurance, and reduced effort required to carry out the activities of daily living.
In the long-term, strength training can help to reduce the risk of numerous health conditions including Type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, stroke, chronic kidney and liver disease, sarcopenia and frailty.
Strength training can also have a huge impact decelerating cognitive decline. People with low muscle strength can have a 72% higher risk of dementia compared to those with high muscle strength.
It can reduce depressive symptoms by over 50%, giving similar results to antidepressant medication with none of the medication side effects.
After Strength-Training Awareness Day (4 April), Ashley is hoping to work with local businesses in Greater Manchester with the aim of incorporating strength training opportunities into the workplace.
Ashley said:
“As our population ages, we tend to become less active, making our current health model no longer sustainable. We are keeping people alive for longer, but those years are being spent in poor health. My heart is in prevention, and one of the biggest returns on investment is strength training.
“When we consider that musculoskeletal conditions, mental health, and obesity are drivers of workplace absenteeism, costing the UK economy £150 billion in 2023, we can reduce the risk or treat each of these things effectively with strength training.
“Just two, 30-minute sessions of strength training per week is likely to reduce your chances of developing chronic disease.”
Claire Marshall, Strategic Lead for Active Adults at GM Moving, said:
“We need to work across the city region to ensure everyone has the opportunity to take part in both strength-based and aerobic exercise, so we can all enjoy the numerous physical and mental health benefits they bring.”
“We know it is never too late to start, and doing anything is better than nothing. We want to use these new guidelines to support everyone by showing you don’t need loads of specialist equipment, it can be as easy as using your body weight and doing exercises in your living room at home.”
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