Older women who lift weights—even just one arm or leg at a time—gain muscle and fight off the natural muscle loss that comes with aging.

Pro

Against

Evidence from Studies

Supporting (1)

Community contributions welcome

The effect of unilateral and bilateral strength training on the bilateral deficit and lean tissue mass in post-menopausal women

Randomized Controlled Trial

Human

2006 Jun

Both types of strength training—using both arms/legs at once or one at a time—helped older women build more muscle than not training at all, proving that lifting weights works to fight muscle loss after menopause.

Contradicting (0)

Community contributions welcome

No contradicting evidence found

Source Study

The effect of unilateral and bilateral strength training on the bilateral deficit and lean tissue mass in post-menopausal women

Score: 47

DOI: 10.1007/s00421-006-0165-1

Similar Assertions

Training one arm or leg at a time helps older women build muscle just as well as training both at once—but it doesn’t help them use both sides together any better.

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When older women lift weights for 8 weeks, their muscles don’t get much bigger, but they do get stronger and walk faster—so it seems like something other than bigger muscles is helping them move better.

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Even people in their 50s and 70s can get much stronger and activate their muscles better after 12 weeks of heavy weight training — age doesn’t stop them from improving.

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Whether older women train one arm or leg at a time or both together, they both gain muscle—just as much as each other—and both are better than not training at all.

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