Battling
the Ageing Process –
Why
Movement Matters
We
can’t
completely dodge the signs of ageing—wrinkles,
grey hair, and a little creakiness are part of the package. But
here’s
the good news: while some changes are inevitable, many of the
declines we often blame on “just
getting older”
are
actually linked to inactivity.
The
old saying “Use
it or lose it”
couldn’t
be more true when it comes to your muscles, bones, and joints.
Research shows that as much as 50%
of age-related changes in bones, muscles, and connective tissues are
due to inactivity, not ageing itself
. The problem is, being sedentary fuels a vicious cycle: less
movement leads to weakness, which makes you even less likely to move,
which accelerates decline.
For
example, older adults confined to bed can lose up to 5%
of their muscle strength per day
. That weakness then makes standing, walking, and moving feel
riskier, which increases the likelihood of staying inactive.
The
solution? Movement. Evidence consistently shows that building muscle
strength and bone health through regular activity not only helps
prevent disability and frailty but also protects against chronic
diseases like type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and
osteoporosis .
Why
This Matters More Than Ever
Australia
is an ageing nation. Nearly half
of Australians over 75 live with some form of disability
. Many of these are musculoskeletal conditions such as:
-
Osteoarthritis
– the
breakdown of cartilage leading to pain and stiffness. -
Osteomalacia
– soft
bones caused by vitamin D deficiency. -
Osteoporosis
– brittle,
fracture-prone bones. -
Rheumatoid
arthritis
– inflammatory
joint disease. -
Muscle
weakness
– often
driven by inactivity or one of the conditions above.
From
about age 35, we naturally start losing muscle at a rate of about 1%
per year
. This decline accelerates after 50, especially in women, who also
experience a faster drop in bone density after menopause. By age 80,
1
in 4 women are at high risk of hip fracture,
which can have life-changing consequences .
And
it’s
not just bones and muscles. Cartilage—the
cushioning tissue in joints—depends
on movement to stay healthy. Because cartilage doesn’t
have a direct blood supply, it relies on the flow of synovial
fluid
(the joint’s
natural lubricant) to bring in nutrients and flush out waste. That
fluid only circulates when you move. No movement, no nourishment.
