Aging is not inevitable frailty but a consequence of inactivity, says trauma surgeon

Aging is not an inevitable slide into frailty, but a consequence of inactivity, according to orthopedic surgeon Dr. Vonda Wright. She contends that the human body is designed to be strong at any age, whether one is 20, 50, or 80.

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We don't age because we have birthdays. We age because we stop moving.

In an interview on Mel Robbins' podcast, Wright challenged the widespread belief that aging inherently leads to deterioration. She explained that the myth of inevitable decline paints a picture of the last 20 years of life as a "slippery slope toward frailty." Instead, she asserted that inactivity is unnatural for humans, who are designed for movement with muscles strongest below the navel.

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There is the widespread myth in this country that aging is an inevitable decline from the vitality of youth down a slippery slope toward frailty, where we spend the last 20 years of our lives dying.

"We don't age because we have birthdays. We age because we stop moving," Wright stated. She believes aging should be viewed as a natural process, with the focus on "how we age." To support her claims, she cited a study comparing thigh muscle cross-sections, which showed the muscle of a 70-year-old athlete was nearly identical to that of a 40-year-old. In contrast, a sedentary 74-year-old exhibited significant muscle loss replaced by fat.

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What matters is how we age.

Wright proposes four fundamental pillars of training, flexibility, mobility, and strength, as critical for preventing frailty. She highlights the "golden decade" between ages 35 and 45 as a key period to establish these habits before significant hormonal changes occur. She emphasized that it is never too late to start, noting that even individuals in their 90s can experience positive responses to strategic exercise, thereby improving their health trajectory and quality of life.

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There is no age or skill level where it is too late.