Resistance Training and Healthy Aging: What the 2026 ACSM Position Stand Shows
Author: Feras Alayed
Published:
Category: health
Reading Time: 11 minutes
Resistance training and healthy aging: The 2026 ACSM Position Stand synthesized 137 systematic reviews and more than 30,000 participants. It found that progressive resistance training improves strength, hypertrophy, power, endurance, contraction velocity, gait speed, balance, and several physical-function outcomes in healthy adults.
Practical meaning
The evidence does not point to one perfect program. Free weights, machines, bands, water, and bodyweight can all be useful when training is regular, progressive, and appropriate to the person. Strength findings favored heavier loads in some contexts, while hypertrophy was associated with higher weekly volume and power with moderate loads and faster concentric movement.
Start with a small routine you can repeat, train major muscle groups regularly, and increase challenge gradually. The ATHAR Health Compass and calculators are educational tools that can help organize questions and routines.