Study reveals older exercisers are made of tougher stuff
6 Apr 2025
Older adults may be more physically resilient when exercising than is commonly supposed, according to a new study from the University of Lancaster.
Data pooled from nearly 40 previous studies suggested in fact that older subjects did not experience any greater loss of muscle function than younger individuals.
More surprisingly, the data revealed the older cohorts consistently lower levels of muscle soreness than younger people.
The more senior groups showed soreness reductions of around 34% after48 hours, rising to 62% after 72 hours, said the researchers in their study published in the Journal of Ageing and Physical Activity (JAPA).
Furthermore, levels of creatine kinase levels, which serve as an indicator of muscle damage, were approximately 28% lower in older adults at 24 hours post-exercise.
For the research younger adults were defined as 18-25, with older adults categorised as 35 and above.
The report’s senior author Dr Lawrence Hayes of Lancaster Medical School explained that the findings were contrary to popular assumptions that deterred older people from continuing to exercise.
“These findings are significant because they challenge the widespread belief that ageing muscles recover more slowly or are more prone to exercise-induced damage.
“This misconception often discourages older adults from engaging in regular physical activity due to fears of prolonged soreness or weakness.”
While the findings contradicted assumptions of age-related differences in muscle resilience, they also suggested gender might have more influence, with showing slightly greater decreases in muscle function after exercise.
