It is well known that muscle strength decreases with age, but do you know at what age it effectively begins to decrease?
A joint study by Chiba University, Kitasato University, and Osaka City University found that muscle strength in the upper and lower limbs begin to decline linearly from around age 30, while core muscle strength declines slowly until the age of 60, and then more rapidly from around age 70. Decline in core muscle strength leads to spinal kyphosis (or hunched back), which can increase the cause for back pain. In recent years, it has been found that when people with spinal kyphosis (hunched back) develop scoliosis, they tend to have more pain in the lower back and lower limbs.
Even if you try to build up core muscle strength as you get older, your muscles often have fatty degeneration (atrophy), lack the energy to build up muscle, or have difficulty becoming stronger. That’s why it is important to start exercising to strengthen the core muscles and to maintain a posture that allows the core muscles to work properly as early as possible, such as at age 50 or 60, to prevent back pain.
ILC International Back Pain Clinic Tokyo
Written by Naoki Yoshida, Administrative Director
