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Strength Exercises for Seniors: Build Muscle, Increase Metabolism

From Sharon O'Brien,
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Strength Exercises: Before You Start

Before you start, please read these important safety tips:

  • Don't hold your breath during strength exercises. This could affect your blood pressure.

  • Use smooth, steady movements to bring weights into position. Avoid jerking or thrusting movements.

  • Avoid locking the joints of your arms and legs into a strained position. Breathe out as you lift or push a weight and breathe in as you relax.

  • Muscle soreness lasting a few days and slight fatigue are normal after muscle building exercises.

  • Exhaustion, sore joints, and painful muscle pulls are not normal.

  1. Strength Exercises: Before You Start
  2. Arm Raises: strengthen your shoulder muscles
  3. Chair Stands: strengthen stomach and thigh muscles
  4. Bicep Curls: strengthen upper-arm muscles
  5. Tricep Extensions: strengthen muscles in the back of the arm
  6. Knee Flexion: strengthen muscles in the back of the thigh
  7. How Much Should I Exercise, and How Often?

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