Some of us like to lounge about and relax, others try to get to the gym when they can, some have a regular routine, and then there’s those that just can’t sit still, they’re always working out or playing sports. Those last guys have bodies to show for that work ethic too, they’re toned, strong, and they just seem to glow.

Those benefits are well known, whenever someone thinks they should exercise more, it’s usually with the idea that in the short term they’ll get healthier and look better. It’s not as often that people start to workout because they want to extend their life or to age more gracefully, and while we all might assume that’s the case, researchers have had a difficult time explaining why, as Medical Xpress notes:

Muscle weakening happens when the fibers contract slower and with less force. A team of Canadian researchers hypothesized that the constant physical training of older elite runners preserved their muscle fibers such that the fibers behaved like those of young adults.

“One of the most unique and novel aspects of this study are the exceptional participants,” says lead author Geoff Power of University of Guelph in Canada. “These are individuals in their 80s and 90s who actively compete in the world masters track and field championships. In the study, we had seven world champions, and everyone placed in the top four of their respective events.”

To the researchers’ surprise, the muscle fibers of masters athletes contracted at a speed and force similar to those of older non-athlete adults, not the young adults.

It appears as though extreme athleticism is dependent on age more than activity level. Nobody will argue that becoming a super athlete isn’t good for your health, but these results suggest that going to the extreme is either not necessary or makes no significant difference. Check out the full post for more details.

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