Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

For longevity, muscle strength may be as important as aerobic exercise

washingtonpost.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

51–56 of 56 posts

Re: For longevity, muscle strength may be as important as aerobic exercise

#51

Post by mister_mister »

SoftTalker wrote: post #28
Temporary_31337 wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

it's not just bones - it's also the tendons, ligaments, heck even the skin

All true but it's not without risk. I'm in my 50s, lifting weights for about 3 years now, slow steady increases in weight and am much stronger than I was in 2019. Recently while bench pressing I felt something "pop" in my shoulder and now can't do any pressing movement at all without significant pain. Diagnosed and tried to rehab it as a tendon strain with no improvement. Getting an MRI soon to see what's going on. A…

I would advice to lose the barbell and focus on dumbbells and machines. Try training more like bodybuilders instead of power lifters. Using the full range of motion, and being able to rotate while performing the movement will decrease the tension on your joints and ligaments.

Re: For longevity, muscle strength may be as important as aerobic exercise

#52

Post by mister_mister »

SoftTalker wrote: post #30
ren_engineer wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>This is not a scientific argument, but if you build up conditioning safely, i think running should be excellent for you the problem is that running/jogging is usually the first thing people turn to for "getting in shape" and these people are often significantly overweight. Starting off with a high impact exercise is a recipe for disaster. Put on a 50-100lb weight vest and try running around and feel the impact on yo…

If you are 50lbs "overweight" your body has built the strength to carry that weight. Look at any champion powerlifter or "strongman" champion, they all look overweight. It's not all fat, it's the muscle to move that weight around as well. So it's not really the same as a normal-weight person putting on a weight vest. But long term overweight is hard on your joints, no disupting that.

for stress on the ligaments and joints weight is one the most important factors. Be it from a weighted vest, fat, or muscle. Joints of humans are not made to carry the weight of a strongman.

Re: For longevity, muscle strength may be as important as aerobic exercise

#54

Post by sonthonax »

cal85 wrote: post #26
sonthonax wrote: post #14

I’ve always thought there’s something misguided about the legions of “want to get fit” types who self flagellate with long runs. Running is terrible exercise. Terrible because it’s extremely hard on the body unless you’re on the lower end of the BMI scale. If you do any sport with a high mobility requirement, you can feel how tight a single run makes you. The killer in old age is immobility, of your knees and hips. R…

> unless you’re on the lower end of the BMI scale Can you clarify, do you mean lower than 'normal' range (i.e. < 18.5), or lower than the US average (i.e. < 26), or what? And is this mostly anecdotal or is there evidence to support it (the view that running is a bad exercise for people above a certain BMI)? Not challenging this, I just haven't heard it before and am intrigued. And can you clarify what you mean by "an…

For best results distance runners should have a BMI on the lower end of the healthy range. If you’re serious about improving your performance over Sport with a high mobility requirement? Things like weightlifting, gymnastics, ballet etc.

Re: For longevity, muscle strength may be as important as aerobic exercise

#55

Post by sonthonax »

Maciek_Kl wrote: post #21
sonthonax wrote: post #14

I’ve always thought there’s something misguided about the legions of “want to get fit” types who self flagellate with long runs. Running is terrible exercise. Terrible because it’s extremely hard on the body unless you’re on the lower end of the BMI scale. If you do any sport with a high mobility requirement, you can feel how tight a single run makes you. The killer in old age is immobility, of your knees and hips. R…

What you write about running isn't true. I recommend reading the book- The Big Book of Endurance Training and Racing by Phil Maffetone

What isn’t true about it?

Re: For longevity, muscle strength may be as important as aerobic exercise

#56

Post by sonthonax »

johnrob wrote: post #18
sonthonax wrote: post #14

I’ve always thought there’s something misguided about the legions of “want to get fit” types who self flagellate with long runs. Running is terrible exercise. Terrible because it’s extremely hard on the body unless you’re on the lower end of the BMI scale. If you do any sport with a high mobility requirement, you can feel how tight a single run makes you. The killer in old age is immobility, of your knees and hips. R…

This is not a scientific argument, but if you build up conditioning safely, i think running should be excellent for you - especially if sprinting is involved. My take is that it’s a natural movement that evolution has prepared you for. Just my 2 cents.

Sprinting has almost nothing to do with the slow plodding runs that a typical “I want to get fit type” does.

Completely different energy systems, <90% anaerobic, and has a level of skill acquisition that distance running doesn’t have.

Post reply on HN