The new medicine: Muscle strength

t's not just for bodybuilders. Strength training is critical for all of us.

When it comes to exercise, regular brisk 30-minute walks through your neighborhood are no longer enough. Research shows that strength training is also key to a longer, healthier life. "Strength training in older adults is very important," says Kelly Macauley, a clinical instructor with Harvard-affiliated Massachusetts General Hospital Institute of Health Professions. "It can slow and reverse age-related declines in muscle mass and muscle endurance, which can keep older adults healthier, longer."

It can slow and reverse age-related declines in muscle ... mass and muscle endurance, which can ... , a person with more muscle mass burns more calories." ... "Potential risks can include muscle strains....