Use It or Lose It

One common phrase I’m sure many of you have heard is “use it or lose it.” During school, this phrase, along with “motion is lotion” was drilled into our heads. The best thing about this simple little phrase is how true it is. This one-liner connects to many different aspects of life, from a complicated skill all the way down to the simplest task.

As we age, everyone will decline at a certain rate, but if you continuously stay active, exercise, and “use” your muscles, they will decline at a much slower rate. The process of aging does not have to be the loss of musculature. 

I saw an interesting picture the other day. It was a picture of a 30 year old triathlete, a 70 year old triathlete, and a 70 year old sedentary individual. The difference between the 30 and 70 year old triathlete in regards to leg mass due to musculature was miniscule.

The difference between the 70 year old sedentary individual and 30 year old triathlete in leg musculature was vast. Of course, not everyone is going to be a triathlete, but the simple process of maintaining exercise as we age is critical to maintaining functionality.

The way I picture aging is like a slope down a hill. How steep are we letting that slope be? By staying active there is an insignificant slope, but when we start becoming sedentary that slope tends to be sharper. Let’s not let that aging slope keep us from living life 30-40 years from now.

If you’re looking to begin your journey to become an active you, have a concerning pain, or questions call Wolken Therapy and Wellness.