Middle-aged guys who don't work out much feel more sore after a tough squat session than those who are used to training — and that soreness lasts longer. This suggests staying active might help reduce muscle soreness as you age.

Middle-aged guys who lift weights don't bounce back as quickly after a tough leg workout as younger guys do — they're weaker and less powerful for a few days, even if they're just as trained.

After a heavy leg workout, men report their legs feeling very sore — about 3 out of 5 on a pain scale — and it lasts for at least two days.

If middle-aged guys have been doing strength training, they don’t lose as much power when squatting after a tough workout compared to guys who haven’t trained — meaning regular lifting might help them stay explosive while recovering.

For men who already lift weights, doing either high-intensity or high-volume workouts for 8 weeks didn't make a big difference in leg strength or muscle size.

After a tough squat workout, both younger and middle-aged guys who regularly lift weights show similar drops in their ability to fully activate their leg muscles — and that drop lasts for at least a few days. This suggests that brain-to-muscle fatigue from hard workouts doesn’t get worse with age if you stay in shape.