How to program for an elderly client (70+ yrs young)

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Falls among the elderly cost our healthcare system over $50 billion annually—a staggering figure made even more heartbreaking when you realize many are preventable through proper strength training. Yet the fitness industry continues pushing ineffective "gentle" approaches that fail to provide adequate stimulus for meaningful adaptation.

This episode dismantles outdated training myths for older adults and presents a comprehensive framework for designing strength programs that truly address the physiological changes of aging: sarcopenia (loss of muscle mass) and dynopenia (loss of power). Using a 70-year-old retired professor as our case study, we walk through exactly how to assess, design, and progressively overload a training program that builds functional strength where it matters most.

You'll discover why motor unit recruitment through appropriate loading strategies is essential for bone remodeling—specifically, resistance training with weights that challenge clients in the 8-10 repetition range. We explain why popular balance training methods using unstable surfaces fail to produce optimal results compared to properly designed unilateral strength exercises that challenge stability in the frontal plane.

The episode provides a detailed three-day-per-week program with specific exercises, sets, reps, and progressions that can be immediately implemented with older clients. You'll learn assessment strategies that evaluate relevant movements like sit-to-stand rather than irrelevant ones like overhead squat, and understand how to incorporate cognitive challenges that stimulate brain-derived neurotrophic factor for improved neuroplasticity.

Beyond program design, we address crucial considerations like increased protein needs for seniors and practical coaching strategies that build confidence while challenging clients appropriately. This evidence-based approach doesn't just improve fitness metrics—it preserves independence and quality of life while substantially reducing fall risk.

Ready to transform how you train older adults? Email info@showupfitness.com for our complete month-long program design template and information about upcoming certification opportunities.

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