Breaking PRs vs breaking your face.Strength and older people.

Recently I came across news about two older people and what had been going on in their lives.
I'm not at their age yet.But I'm far enough past youth to respect the challenges they're facing.
The first article was by athletic trainer Charles Staley called "How I got in my best shape at age 55."
The second piece of information I saw was about Dr Harriet Hall.She had suffered a serious fall.

 Charles Staley is a long time athlete who has participated in martial arts,track events,and weight lifting.He admits he was never a gifted athlete.He felt like he came up short compared to many others.He also admitted that he could have worked harder,and smarter.
But the exciting part about his story is that he never gave up on his love for improving himself,and decided to increase his commitment.He was eating a lousy diet,and said he didn't look the part of a fitness trainer.Basically a flabby old guy who people listened to because they respected his reputation as an intelligent coach.He could have coasted along and settled for things as they were.
He decided to make the effort to improve his diet,and lost 23 pounds.He also managed to break weightlifting personal records.
That's a person who's not giving up on what he can do.He can't stop the years passing.But he doesn't have to slip dearly near senility.

Harriet Hall is known as the SkepDoc.She's a Medical Doctor,and a retired United States Air Force Colonel.She's dedicated to exposing quackery,and nonsense in the medical field.
This is a very intelligent,and well informed individual.
I've read her work for years,and respected her insight on skeptical issues regarding medicine.
She's a regular contributor to the website Science Based Medicine.
I stopped by the site,and found that she had suffered an accident while on vacation in Australia with her husband.Here's what she posted about a month ago.

Harriet_Hall Moderator • 25 days ago

More info:
I was on a bus tour from Alice Springs to Uluru. We had stopped to walk up into a canyon in 103 degree heat and on the way back I lost my footing on treacherous uneven rocky terrain, kept going faster and couldn't stop, fell on outstretched arms, hitting face and head. List of injuries: broken right wrist, small brain bleed, jaw broken on both sides, maxillary fractures involving both maxillary sinuses and one orbital floor, two broken teeth, lacerations to temple, lower lip and chin, multiple bruises and nicks. It took 3 1/2 hours for the maxillofacial surgeons in Adelaide to put Humpty Dumpty together again with multiple plates and screws as well as braces and rubber bands to coax my teeth back into alignment. And they repaired my lip by cutting out a small wedge. I got excellent care and two rides with Royal Australian Flying Doctors. Recovering well, but still considerable pain and can only eat puréed food. Just got out of hospital after a week, am in motel. Will fly to Sydney in two days, then Eran Segev has kindly offered to drive us to Newcastle where we will stay with a friend of Kirk's he hasn't seen since college. Then, hopefully back to USA a couple of days later.
Thanks to everyone for the good wishes.

That's a hell of a scary fall for a 71 year old woman.It's the kind of accident that can have life changing consequences.It could have been the nasty end of a meaningful life.It could have killed her.
It's accidents like this that people fear for their parents,or someday,themselves.

It reminded me of the accident tennis writer Bud Collins suffered in 2012.

Bud Collins website entry

He had had serious health problems before.But this was the event that pushed him into a state that he never really recovered from.He spent so long in bed after the fall that it exacerbated his heart problems.
He died in 2016 at the age of 86.That's about ten years better than the average age of death for an American man.
He had been a tennis player himself.He remained active,and traveled into his later years.But if he could have avoided that fall,his final years would surely have been easier.
I really liked this wonderful funny old guy.It made me sad to see him go through this.

I don't blame Harriet Hall,or Bud Collins.I don't know if their accidents could have been avoided.
But I think it's possible that a stronger person could have avoided it.Maybe you'd have a chance to stop yourself from going ass over teakettle.I do believe having more muscle,especially in your legs,could make a difference.There's also the effect of training on the Central Nervous System,and reflexes.

The conclusion is simple.No matter how difficult,and intimidating it may seem to older people they should engage in resistance training.
Older people should be concerned about becoming feeble,and do the only thing that can actively prevent it.
It's the difference between an independent life,and a hospital bed,a rehabilitation facility,an old folks home.It's the difference between active life,and death.

I have to believe that weight training could only help.Even a few dumbbells sitting around.Dumbbell squats,presses,rows.Whatever can be done.So even if your Mom thinks it's crazy,give her some of those colorful dumbbells.
And if someone has enough guts;join a gym.Learn to lift.What do you have to lose but your weakness?

Take responsibility for yourself before it's too late,and out of your hands.

And don't trip over a dumbbell like a pathetic klutz,and smash into the rack.
Re-rack your weights meatheads!