Here are some AMAZING pictures from a new study of masters level athletes.
The top pic is a cross section of the thigh of a 40 year old triathlete. The bottom is a triathlete at 70. The middle is a sedentary 74 year old man.
Notice any differences? I bet these legs look a LOT more similar on the outside.
The whole study is available for free here. Thanks to Alex for pointing this out.
Shortly after my second pregnancy, I needed an MRI. The state of my gluteal muscles shocked and saddened me. It took another 8 years for me to get good information on what I should be doing to reverse that, however: deadlifts and squats. In the last year, the muscle has started to return. How difficult is it to restore muscle that has become badly atrophied?
Erin,
Congratulations on your gluteal repair. I don’t really know the answer to your question. I assume its pretty achievable for most people to get to a healthy level of muscle with simple progressive weight training.
It took you 8 years to grow a butt? You must not be dead lifting and squatting correctly!
[...] New Website Looks Very CrossFit-Influenced CrossFit and “The Biggest Loser”? Use it or Lose it: A Graphic Illustration What the Barbell Took Hook Grip Paleo Cowboy Breakfast Skillet What’s Your [...]
“So, grampa? What would you say the inside of your thigh looks like? A delicious steak, or a runny egg with a cancerous yolk?”
“Grandson, you get stranger every day.”
[...] Use it or Lose it: A Graphic Illustration (bettermovement.org) Rate this: Share this:EmailFacebookTwitterRedditStumbleUponLike this:LikeBe the first to like this post. This entry was posted in Caring for the Caregiver, Maintaining Independence, Prevention by Michael J. Milazzo. Bookmark the permalink. [...]
[...] Use it or Lose it: A Graphic Illustration (bettermovement.org) Rate this: Share this:EmailFacebookTwitterRedditStumbleUponLike this:LikeBe the first to like this post. This entry was posted in Caring for the Caregiver, Maintaining Independence, Prevention by Michael J. Milazzo. Bookmark the permalink. [...]
[...] “Use It Or Lose It: A Graphic Illustration”: We know that physical inactivity has serious consequences for muscle mass and muscle function when combined with aging. But more importantly, we know that exercise can slow or even stop the loss of muscle mass and function that would otherwise occur as sedentary individuals grow older. Need convincing? Take a look at these cross-sectional MRI scans of the quadriceps (thigh muscles) of a 40-year old triathlete, a 74 year-old sedentary man, and a 70 year-old triathlete – the results are astounding. (Results drawn from research published in September 2011, titled “Chronic Exercise Preserves Lean Muscle Mass in Masters Athletes” [Wroblewski et al. 2011].) [...]