Loss of muscle strength

For the average person the muscle strength begins to decline slowly from the age of 30, and decreases significantly after the age of 50. At the age of 70, the average person will have lost 25% or more of their muscle strength. Most affected are the muscles in the lower body (your legs). The loss of muscle strength can be large enough to make physical activity and carrying out daily tasks very difficult.

Losing your muscle strength can have severe effects on your mobility, balance and overall quality of life. It can reach a point when the person is struggling to move fast enough to cross the road or to even get out of bed. Many studies have shown that increased muscle weakness can directly contribute to the risk of falling.

However muscle weakness is also strongly linked with malnutrition (not eating enough) and a lack of vitamin D. A shortage of vitamin D is common in older people and may be the result of a poor diet, lack of exposure to sunlight, or a poor absorption of vitamin D in the intestines. Vitamin D deficiency has a direct effect on muscle tissue, leading to muscle weakness. It is therefore important for older people to improve and maintain muscle strength by following a regular exercise programme and having a nutritious diet.