Strength Decline With Age

[Primemuscle]

One thing i've noticed among older lifters (45+), they avoid squats and deadlifts altogether. All they focus is on the upper body - chest, shoulders, and arms. If they do anything with legs -- it's likely just the leg press or leg extensions machines with enough intensity to kill a new born calve before it shows up on your table as veal.   

Has age taken it's toll by then?

or

Was it the heavy AAS usage early on, that leads to premature joint/ligament/tendon problems later on in life?

Can't speak for others, but I like squats and deads. I just can't do them right now while my knee heals.

[Coach is Back!]

Some of us really don't give a shit. I train just fine doing what I'm doing.

The quote was "one rep maxes were stupid and pointless". I responded to that.

[backday]

Can't speak for others, but I like squats and deads. I just can't do them right now while my knee heals.

I love deads to death 

[Primemuscle]

I love deads to death 

They are the best exercises I know of to help correct flat ass syndrome. Currently all I can do is kickbacks, which are not nearly as effective.

[Thin Lizzy]

I do squats but I stay in the 12-15 rep range and, under no circumstances, do I compromise form.

We have a gym in my building and I'm one of the few people that uses it. So, I mostly train alone, but, over the Summer, on vacation, I trained in a Y in upstate NY. I could not believe the bad Squatting form I was seeing from young guys who were lifting more weight than they could handle. These were more like heavy 1/2 squats 1/2 Good Mornings. They were getting away with it because they were young but doing that stuff in middle age will get you laid up in a hurry.

[Nirvana]

If you follow the progressive overload principle and slowly increase weight each session, by the time you're 90 you should be hitting your best lifts.

[Viking11]

I got stronger overall each year from age 16 to 20, again from 26-29, from 31-53. After an umbillical hernia surgery (1 to 2 cm) I am in no huge hurry to do that again. As long as I can work back to heavy training I am fine.

[jpm101]

Any lifter is going to hit a Bell curve in later years. When you will be getting diminishing returns for your efforts in the gym. That's just the reality of growing older. Which, doesn't always mean you will be a shrunken hulk of your younger years. The peak years may be past, but still holding on to a good amount of strength and muscle mass is possible. Can be in your 70's and be somewhat impressive in strength and size....though not in the personal record breaking sense. If in your late 50's. early 60's and  your best PR for the bench was 320 for 5 reps in your prime, you may be doing anywhere from 250 to 275 for those 5 reps..still impressive for anyone.

May require a different approach to training and diet. One of the more important factors is the ability to recover from workout to following workout. Having briefer training sessions, with fewer exercises, including sets, assure better odds of physical recovery. Taking long workout, too many times in a week, will surly affect the CNS and immune system, which becomes that much more important as we age. You can be intense in workouts, but for shorter periods of time. Taking 1 1/2 to 2 hours workouts in the past, may be better served by cutting the time down to 30 to 40 minutes max. May find that losing muscle mass & strength will be the result of doing longer workout as before.

I've worked with older gentlemen, the older ones in their middle 70's. Find that full stretching and holds become very important before and after working out. Actually doing flex movements (stretch/holds) become just as important on off workout days. Joints/ligaments/tendons concerns become of major important as we age.

Just to note: One elderly GB'er, in his late 60's had been doing 24-26 sets for delts alone. While using Nautilus machines for some of his delt work.  Trying not to be critical, but that is a worse of what not to do , even for much younger men. Taking that delt work down to 4 or 5 sets max, may prove much better results. But I do wish this gentlemen well in hs future training.  Good Luck

[jpm101]

Never one to be big on supplements, believing that eating food is it's own reward, when gaining strength and muscle mass is concerned. The electromagnetic generator, that the body is and it's chemical processing abilities will usually be all you need for progress. Eat quality food, and a good within reason amount,  for top results

In contact with some mature weight trainee's  and listening to what they say, and their experience,  adding supplements may be required as age begins setting in. Been told some interesting results with Kre Alkalyn (creatine..better usable/less negative  form) and nitric oxide boosters for men up to their mid 70's. This in regards to holding their muscle mass and strength levels, as best they can (old age and nature is a bitch). Seems an extra surprise bonus, with nitric oxide is greatly improved sex with great longer lasting hard on's. These men take Kre Alkalyn & nitic oxide together before and after workouts.

Did a little checking on line and find that there is quite a lot of research on nitric oxide and male sexual problems. From limp to hard, even for younger guys. Don't think the kre alkalyn would have much afect here, but a combo of both..who knows?