Aging and Exercise

 Have we been aging too quickly?



Did you know that 75-year-old athletes can have the same fitness level as teenagers who don’t exercise?    Imagine your grandma being able to keep pace with you as you jog around the park!   How is it that some people keep up with the sports and activities they enjoy, while others reach a point where they can't move the way they used to?

fitness decline age 25 to 85
aging decline, comparing balance, muscle endurance, cardio fitness, maximum strength


The Science Of Aging And Exercise

Maximum strength, cardio fitness, balance and muscle endurance studies show that physical ability steadily declines from young adulthood through retirement and advanced age, with the rate of decline increasing after middle age. 

According to studies with normative data by age group, muscle endurance and balance are lost most rapidly with aging, followed by power, cardio fitness and maximum strength(1-10).  How much of this decline is unavoidable, and how much is due to lack of exercise? 



Additional studies have uncovered internal aging changes that are apparently occurring in all people. Tendons lose their stiffness. Muscle fibers shrink, and muscle mass declines by 4-5% per decade. There are also changes in the nervous system. Brain cells that affect motor control become less responsive. Slow-twitch endurance neurons replace fast-twitch nerve cells. There is also less space for blood flow in the heart and blood vessels, smaller air sacs in the lungs, and less elasticity in the heart valves and lung tissue. (17-20)

cardio fitness decline rate age 25 to 85

Are these changes set in stone whether or not we exercise? How much difference does it make to stay active as we get older? If we compare athletic and fit people with out-of-shape peers, we can see the age-related decline in fitness is very similar in both groups. If we look more closely at the data, we see that active and athletic people in their 40s, 50s, and 60s have similar conditioning as young adults.   




 It's possible to maintain this youth-like advantage through the retirement years. This is based on a 23-year Cleveland Clinic study that followed over 120,000 people! (3) 

Here are some fun comparisons from the data for men. A fit teen has the same conditioning as an athlete in his 50s. A fit 55-year-old is better than an average 35-year-old. An out-of-shape 55-year-old is not quite as fit as an average 65-year-old or a fit 75-year-old.

When we look at women, we find that a fit 55-year-old is like an out-of-shape teen, an average young adult, or an athlete in her 70s. An out-of-shape young adult is comparable to an average 55-year-old.  An out-of-shape 55-year-old is equal to an average 65-year-old or a fit 75-year-old.  

cardio fitness comparison in men, fit vs. out of shape, ages 17 to 85
cardio fitness comparison in women age 17 to 85, fit vs. out-of-shape

So the most profound observation from the decline that comes with aging is that people who stay active have a considerable advantage over their out-of-shape peers.


Aging and exercise success story


At the age of 63, Eric Schreiber wasn’t feeling healthy. He’d been active in the past, but he gained weight since then. Eric knew it was time for a change after feeling exhausted from a mile and a half walk. Within seven years, he won his age group in the Akron Marathon.  Now he’s fast enough to race against his great nephew!

Eric Schreiber, marathoner at age 72

Today, at 73 years old, Eric plans to keep running as long as he can.  As he says, “I don’t want to get old!”  Eric made a big turnaround after years of effort, but what do the changes with aging look like for the average person?



Physical performance with aging and exercise

decline in walking, jogging rate with aging
strength decline estimate from age 25 to 85


Suppose you have a running, hiking, or biking route that takes you 30 minutes to finish at age 25. If you keep up with a similar weekly exercise routine over the next 20 years, it will take you only three more minutes to finish. By age 65, if you are gradually slowing down your activity as the average person would, and provided you have no remarkable life changes, it will take you 44 minutes to complete your route. Then at 75, after a 40% overall decline in your cardio fitness, it will take you about 54 minutes to finish (3).

When it comes to strength and aging, suppose you use 100# for a weightlifting exercise at age 25. If you gradually adjust your lifestyle over time, as the average person would do, you would expect to lift 90# at age 45, 70# at 65, and 45# at 85, giving you a 55% decline over 60 years (1, 2, 4, 6, 9).





Health and Fitness Calculators

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Aging and exercise— stronger & faster through the 60s and 70s?!

Averages aren’t for everyone. Some exceptional athletes seem to defy the limits of the aging decline. John Moore was able to bench press 270 pounds as an 81-year-old! After 41 years away from the sport, John started weight lifting again at the age of 66. For the next 12 years, at a time in life when he should have been losing strength, he lifted more weight every year. John won the powerlifting world championship for the bench press in the 70+ age group in 2019.  

81-year-old world champion weightlifter, John Moore

Jeannie Rice is the world record holder in the marathon for her age group. At 73 years old, she can run faster than 8 minutes per mile for an entire marathon, which is much better than an average marathoner of any age! Jeannie was running marathons in 3:40 ten years ago, and her recent times have improved to 3:24. Just like John and Eric, Jeannie improved her physical ability much later in life than we would expect. John and Eric show that previously active people can make a big comeback, even in their 60s and 70s, while Jeannie shows it’s possible to continue improving, even for people who already have outstanding fitness.


Long term implications of aging and exercise

While these athletes are performing remarkably well, many peers reaching this age are on the cusp of disability. Data from WHO anticipates that the average 60-year-old will lose physical independence by the late 70s, even in the top-20 countries for life expectancy(11).  This leaves about six years with some level of dependence on others before the end of life.  In the US, it’s nearly eight years. 


For those who live to the 90s, walking rates tend to slow down significantly, and there is much more walker and wheelchair use compared to people in the 70s and 80s.  Studies of physical ability show a high rate of decline from ages 65-85. The age-95 ability level is 43% of a 65-year-old.  The rating is an estimate based on the decline rate of the previous decades (1-10).  Balance tends to decline aggressively in old age, followed by muscle endurance, maximum strength, and cardio fitness.

healthy life expectancy after age 60, years with disability
physical fitness estimates age 65 to 95

It’s possible to make improvements in your senior years, especially for people who were active earlier in life. But with the general trend of decline after 65, we are best off building our fitness up before retirement as well. The quality of life advantage for active seniors is unmistakable compared to their peers, as there are seniors over 100 competing in athletics and 110-year-olds still walking on their own. With the widening gap in life outcomes as we grow older, how can we give ourselves the best chance at successful aging?


Assess your progress with aging and exercise

cardio fitness and health benefits by age in women
Target VO2 max scores and 1.5-mile run times age 45 men and women


Thanks to advances in health science, fitness tests have become a good health indicator and a guide for your future exercise training. Our age group fitness chart is reorganized by fitness score and health risk. Where would you land on this chart? 


You can self-test your cardio fitness, or VO2 max, with a 1-mile walk or a 1.5-mile run for time. Using data from current research, the minimum fitness standard for a 45-year-old woman would be the equivalent of running 1.5 miles in 17 minutes or better. For a man the same age, it would be 13:52 or better. A good VO2 max is associated with lower health risks and better long-term survival (3).  



With aging, muscle endurance declines faster than cardio fitness.  Fortunately, there is meaningful data you can use to track your status.  A 2019 Harvard study found that working-age men who could do at least 11 push-ups were much less likely to develop heart disease than those who could do ten or fewer. Risks decreased further at 21 push-ups and above, and men who could do 41 push-ups or more were at the lowest level of risk (12).  These numbers compare closely with established fitness standards for pushups.  Are you in the low-risk group, or do you need to build up your muscle endurance?

Excess weight and body fat can also affect your physical ability as you age.   Scientists across the globe found that a waist measurement of less than half your height is a reliable minimum standard to help lower your health risks, regardless of body shape. A smaller waist is associated with longer life expectancy, improved fitness, and lower risks of disease and death (13,14).

upper body muscle endurance and health benefits, push-ups for men
waist size and health benefits for men



body mass index, BMI, and risk of premature death for men under age 60

When used alongside these other tests, body mass index, a measure of your weight relative to your height, can be an insightful tool. A 2013 review of studies showed slower walking speeds and more trouble with balance in overweight and obese seniors, with similar results for seniors with increased waist measurements (16)

This weight chart for men under age 60 compares body mass index weight classes by their associated risk of premature death. Find your height in the left column and scan to the right for your weight. Healthy weight guidelines come from body mass index research that compares death, disease, and disability risk by weight class(15, 21, 22)

I hope you have a deeper appreciation and greater perspective on aging and exercise. Without question, physical activity improves our journey throughout life. Please share in the comment section about the people you know who inspire you to be fit later in life. If you watched the YouTube video and read this article, congratulations! You have completed Part 1 of our masterclass, Fit For Your Life, where we cover tools that give you the health benefits you need from the lifestyle you enjoy. More chapters from the masterclass are below. 

If you enjoyed this article on aging and exercise, please share it with others!  Subscribe to our YouTube channel so you won’t miss any upcoming content about health, exercise, and fitness.   


Fit For Your Life, The Masterclass Articles!

#1 VO2 max 

VO2 max impacts our performance, our health, and even our survival! Learn how to test yourself accurately with the Rockport 1-Mile Walk, Cooper 12-Minute Run, or Cooper 1.5-Mile Run.  Find out whether you’re fit enough for optimal health and top performance.

VO2 max, test yourself!

#2 Body Mass Index

Learning the health advantages of different sizes and weight groups can help you zero in on what you want for yourself.  Take a step toward optimal health with weight goals you can commit to achieving.

#3 Walking speed for seniors                  

Seniors who walk faster live longer! Test your walking speed, build your strength, and improve your balance reactions for a faster walking pace.

Body mass index (BMI):  Finding your healthy weight!
walking speed for seniors


Aging and Exercise References 


1. Dodds RM, Syddall HE, Cooper R, Benzeval M, Deary IJ, et al. (2014) Grip Strength across the Life Course: Normative Data from Twelve British Studies. PLoS ONE 9(12): e113637. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0113637 


2.  Landi F, Calvani R, Martone AM, Salini S, Zazzara MB, Candeloro M, Coelho-Junior HJ, Tosato M, Picca A, Marzetti E. Normative values of muscle strength across ages in a 'real world' population: results from the longevity check-up 7+ project. J Cachexia Sarcopenia Muscle. 2020 Dec;11(6):1562-1569. doi: 10.1002/jcsm.12610. Epub 2020 Nov 4. PMID: 33147374; PMCID: PMC7749608.


3. Mandsager K, Harb S, Cremer P, Phelan D, Nissen SE, Jaber W. Association of Cardiorespiratory Fitness With Long-term Mortality Among Adults Undergoing Exercise Treadmill Testing. JAMA Netw Open. 2018;1(6):e183605. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2018.3605


4. Francis P, Lyons M, Piasecki M, Mc Phee J, Hind K, Jakeman P. Measurement of muscle health in aging. Biogerontology. 2017 Dec;18(6):901-911. doi: 10.1007/s10522-017-9697-5. Epub 2017 Apr 4. PMID: 28378095; PMCID: PMC5684284.


5. Mitchell WK, Williams J, Atherton P, Larvin M, Lund J, Narici M. Sarcopenia, dynapenia, and the impact of advancing age on human skeletal muscle size and strength; a quantitative review. Front Physiol. 2012 Jul 11;3:260. doi: 10.3389/fphys.2012.00260. PMID: 22934016; PMCID: PMC3429036.


6. Kjær, I.G.H., Torstveit, M.K., Kolle, E. et al. Normative values for musculoskeletal- and neuromotor fitness in apparently healthy Norwegian adults and the association with obesity: a cross-sectional study. BMC Sports Sci Med Rehabil 8, 37 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13102-016-0059-4


7. Lohne-Seiler H, Kolle E, Anderssen SA, Hansen BH. Musculoskeletal fitness and balance in older individuals (65-85 years) and its association with steps per day: a cross sectional study. BMC Geriatr. 2016 Jan 12;16:6. doi: 10.1186/s12877-016-0188-3. PMID: 26755421; PMCID: PMC4709913.


8.  United States Navy Physical Readiness Training Standards 2022 https://www.navy-prt.com/2022-navy-prt-standards/


9. Pasco, J.A., Stuart, A.L., Holloway-Kew, K.L. et al. Lower-limb muscle strength: normative data from an observational population-based study. BMC Musculoskelet Disord 21, 89 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12891-020-3098-7


10. Hoffmann MD, Colley RC, Doyon CY, Wong SL, Tomkinson GR, Lang JJ. Normative-referenced percentile values for physical fitness among Canadians. Health Rep. 2019 Oct 16;30(10):14-22. doi: 10.25318/82-003-x201901000002-eng. PMID: 31617933.


11.  World Health Organization, The Global Health Observatory, Life expectancy at age 60; https://www.who.int/data/gho/data/indicators/indicator-details/GHO/life-expectancy-at-age-60-(years)


12. Yang J, Christophi CA, Farioli A, et al. Association Between Push-up Exercise Capacity and Future Cardiovascular Events Among Active Adult Men. JAMA Netw Open. 2019;2(2):e188341. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2018.8341


13.  Ashwell M, Mayhew L, Richardson J, Rickayzen B (2014) Waist-to-Height Ratio Is More Predictive of Years of Life Lost than Body Mass Index. PLoS ONE 9(9): e103483. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0103483 


14. Lam BCC, Koh GCH, Chen C, Wong MTK, Fallows SJ (2015) Comparison of Body Mass Index (BMI), Body Adiposity Index (BAI), Waist Circumference (WC), Waist-To-Hip Ratio (WHR) and Waist-To-Height Ratio (WHtR) as Predictors of Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors in an Adult Population in Singapore. PLoS ONE 10(4): e0122985. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0122985 


15. Patel AV, Hildebrand JS, Gapstur SM (2014) Body Mass Index and All-Cause Mortality in a Large Prospective Cohort of White and Black U.S. Adults. PLoS ONE 9(10): e109153. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0109153 


16. Hardy R, Cooper R, Aihie Sayer A, Ben-Shlomo Y, Cooper C, et al. (2013) Body Mass Index, Muscle Strength and Physical Performance in Older Adults from Eight Cohort Studies: The HALCyon Programme. PLoS ONE 8(2): e56483. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0056483 


17. Franceschi C, Garagnani P, Morsiani C, Conte M, Santoro A, Grignolio A, Monti D, Capri M and Salvioli S (2018) The Continuum of Aging and Age-Related Diseases: Common Mechanisms but Different Rates. Front. Med. 5:61. doi: 10.3389/fmed.2018.00061 


18. Gonzalez-Freire M, de Cabo R, Studenski SA, Ferrucci L. The Neuromuscular Junction: Aging at the Crossroad between Nerves and Muscle. Front Aging Neurosci. 2014 Aug 11;6:208. doi: 10.3389/fnagi.2014.00208. PMID: 25157231; PMCID: PMC4127816.


19. Khan SS, Singer BD, Vaughan DE. Molecular and physiological manifestations and measurement of aging in humans. Aging Cell. 2017 Aug;16(4):624-633. doi: 10.1111/acel.12601. Epub 2017 May 23. PMID: 28544158; PMCID: PMC5506433.


20. Jakovljevic, DG. Physical activity and cardiovascular aging: Physiological and molecular insights, Experimental Gerontology, Volume 109, 2018, Pages 67-74, ISSN 0531-5565, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.exger.2017.05.016.


21. Kivimäki M, Strandberg T, Pentti J, Nyberg ST, Frank P, Jokela M, Ervasti J, Suominen SB, Vahtera J, Sipilä PN, Lindbohm JV, Ferrie JE. Body-mass index and risk of obesity-related complex multimorbidity: an observational multicohort study. Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol. 2022 Apr;10(4):253-263. doi: 10.1016/S2213-8587(22)00033-X. Epub 2022 Mar 4. PMID: 35248171; PMCID: PMC8938400.


22. Supplement to: Kivimäki M, Strandberg T, Pentti J, et al. Body-mass index and risk of obesity-related complex multimorbidity: an observational multicohort study. Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol 2022; published online March 3. https://doi.org/10.1016/ S2213-8587(22)00033-X.