Supplements for Concussions
June 30, 2026
Strength Training and Longevity
Strength training has long been associated with improved muscle mass, bone health, and physical performance. New research published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine suggests it may also play a role in longevity. Dr. Deryk Harting of Chambers Medical Group, one of the highest rated car accident medical doctor care teams in Florida, explains strength training and longevity.
Researchers from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health analyzed data from 147,374 adults who participated in 3 large U.S. health studies. Participants were followed for up to 30 years, with researchers tracking their resistance training and aerobic exercise habits. They found that when compared to people who performed no resistance training, those who completed 90 to 119 minutes of strength training per week experienced:
- A 13% lower risk of death from any cause
- A 19% lower risk of death from cardiovascular disease
- A 27% lower risk of death from neurological diseases
The researchers concluded that “90–119 min/week of resistance training was associated with a 13% lower risk of all-cause mortality,” while noting that no additional mortality benefit was observed above 120 minutes per week. Perhaps the most important finding was not that strength training replaced aerobic exercise, but that it complemented it. Those who combined regular resistance training with recommended levels of aerobic activity experienced the greatest reduction in mortality risk.
The study found that participants who accumulated 30–44 MET-hours of aerobic activity per week alongside 60–119 minutes of resistance training had a 45% lower risk of death compared with those who performed little aerobic activity and no strength training. (Metabolic Equivalent of Task hours is a way to measure the total amount of physical activity someone does. It combines how hard you exercise with how long you exercise.) This agrees with current guidelines that recommend incorporating both cardiovascular and resistance exercise into a weekly routine.
The results also challenge the assumption that more exercise always produces better outcomes. The longevity advantage appeared to plateau after approximately 2 hours per week. For most, this means that 2 or 3 strength training sessions each week may provide nearly all the measurable long term health benefits observed in the study.
The main takeaway is you do not need to spend hours in the gym every day to improve your long-term health. Consistent strength training—roughly 90 to 120 minutes each week—combined with regular aerobic exercise appears to provide the most significant benefits for longevity.
For anyone looking to improve overall health, maintain mobility, and reduce the risk of chronic disease, resistance training should be a foundational part of an exercise program rather than an optional addition.
— This article is written by Deryk Harting, DC, one of the members of Chambers Medical Group’s team of car accident chiropractors who offer a variety of treatments and therapies ranging from diagnostic testing to various soft tissue therapies for car accidents and injuries in Florida
