Muscle health in your 50s can be maintained with strength training

A trainer in the article says people in their 50s can still build and preserve muscle through consistent, intelligent strength training, and that recovery and movement quality become more important with age.

Muscle maintenance supports independence and lowers the risk of injury and chronic disease as people age. Physical activity rates tend to decline in the 50s, but the article reports that age does not stop muscles from responding to training. Trainer Kris Herbert, who works with adults 40 and older, says the body still adapts and that avoidance of resistance work is counterproductive. He emphasizes that consistency, recovery, and smarter programming matter more than raw intensity. What the article reports: - Sarcopenia, or age-related muscle loss, can begin in the 30s and may progress without intervention; some research cited in the article notes up to about eight percent muscle loss per decade when inactive. - Strength training is described as one of the most effective ways to slow, prevent, and in many cases reverse age-related muscle decline. - Kris Herbert advises shifting from maximal intensity to precision: controlled tempo, full range of motion, and clean mechanics are highlighted. - The article notes recovery practices—mobility work, soft-tissue care, and adequate sleep—are important components of a program for people in their 50s. - Maintaining muscle is framed as supporting day-to-day independence, for example reducing reliance on help for lifting or other tasks. Summary: Maintaining muscle in the 50s is linked in the article to greater independence and lower risks of injury and chronic disease, and strength training remains effective at later ages. The piece reports trainers recommend prioritizing consistency, movement quality and programmed recovery as the primary approach going forward.