More than Muscle: Weight Training Benefits

What’s the largest organ in the body? If you answered the skin, you’d be partially correct. By weight, the skin is the

largest of the organs. But it doesn’t come close when compared to the musculoskeletal system.

The musculoskeletal system, also known as the locomotor system, consists of…

- Muscles

- Skeleton

- Ligaments

- Cartilage

- Connective Tissue

It is primarily responsible for movement, breathing and posture and provides your body with shape, support and

stability. Essentially, it maintains homeostasis from a mechanical standpoint, thanks to your muscles, bones and

joints. 

In addition, it plays a crucial role in facilitating communication among other organ systems and is essential for

numerous physiological functions, including

- Blood glucose regulation

- Energy production

- Cardiovascular health

- Cognitive function

- Hormone balance

- Bone health

“Those sound like important functions,” you might be thinking. If so, you’ll be pleased to learn that caring for this

important system can be easily accomplished by exercising and, to be specific, by engaging in resistance training,

aka training with weights. If you’ve considered weight training (using barbells, dumbbells, kettlebells, weight

machines, resistance bands or engaging in bodyweight exercise) as an activity reserved solely for the vain and

physically obsessed, consider also that multiple scientific studies have shown it to …

- Improve health outcomes

- Reduce the risk of dementia

- Prevent Sarcopenia

Sarcopenia, the excessive loss of muscle beyond what is expected from normal aging, significantly increases

mortality risk; individuals with low muscle mass and strength face a greater risk of premature death. Muscle mass

naturally declines with age, with men losing about 40% of their muscle mass from age 25 to 80 and women 30%

(unless they do something about it).

Fret not. Unlike other factors that influence longevity, such as genetics, skeletal muscle is uniquely adaptable and

hyper-responsive to lifestyle change. And access to resistance training is as convenient as your nearest YMCA,

senior center, community living health club or fitness facility. Or by purchasing equipment from Amazon or Wal-Mart

and designating a training section in any spare room of your home.

A strength & fitness routine consisting of 2-3 workouts per week will develop muscle, enhance bone density and

strengthen connective tissue. It will also help prevent sarcopenia, decreasing your chances of falling. Should your 2-3

day per week routine develop into a 4-6 day per week routine, those physiological functions associated with the

musculoskeletal system will be in fine fettle and you just may be among those people who experience lower resting

heart rates, lower levels of inflammation and better sleep.