As people get older, their skeletal muscle function declines, according to the study published Tuesday in the journal BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine. It was up to the individuals whether they continued their strength training regimen or went back to their normal exercise level,Resistance training with heavy loads yielded the greatest long-lasting benefit in leg strength, the study showed. Edwin Tan/E+/Getty ImagesWhat counts as resistance training? You can think of resistance training as “exercises that improve strength by making muscles work against a force,” said CNN fitness contributor Dana Santas, a mind-body coach for professional athletes. “For older adults, resistance training is crucial for maintaining muscle mass, bone density, and mobility,” she said.

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Persons: ”,  Mads Bloch, John Batsis, Edwin Tan, Batsis, ” Batsis, Dana Santas, Bloch, Ibenfeldt, Santas Organizations: CNN, CNN’s, Exercise, Institute of Sports Medicine, Bispebjerg Hospital, University of North, School of Medicine, Geriatric, Gillings School of Global Public Health Locations: Copenhagen, Denmark, University of North Carolina