Fitness Professional's Guide to Strength Training Older Adults Paperback – May 4, 2010

This is an excellent book for seniors but the workout schedules and plans would work for anyone of any age. I am a personal trainer and I would use the information in this book for a 20 year old unfit person, a 70 year old senior, or a 30 year old person that is obese. The book is well written and very practical. I've read a ton of fitness books. Basically they all say the same thing and then there is some kind of gimmick. They will all explain sets, reps, intervals, basic nutrition, cardio etc. This book did this briefly in chapters 1 and 2. Chapter 3 (half the book) shows pictures and detailed explanations of exercises using machines and free weights. Chapters 4 & 5 are the meat of the book offering specific workout plans. Chapter 6 picks up where Chapter 3 left off. Chapter 7 is about assessment. Chapter 8 is about special populations (obese, stroke, osteoarthritis, etc...) Good information here. Chapter 9 is about Sport-Specific training. I got some good stuff from this chapter. Chapter 10 is basic nutrition.I'm glad to have this book in my library.

I don't have an opinion, but my 20 year old in San Mateo, CA asked for this book recommended by hisinstructor, it was expensive, but he is very happy to have received it.

In the muscle size program, the intermediate routine is harder than the advanced one. The intermediate routine calls for 15 to 18 sets for chest, back, bi, and tri per week, while the advanced routine calls for 10 sets per week for the corresponding muscle groups.The breathing instruction specifies to exhale during the two second concentric action and to inhale during the four second eccentric action. Four seconds are very long for the inhale. It is doable if you perform diaphragm breathing (belly breathing)--you puff up the chest to allow air to fill up the upper part of the lung and then puff up the belly to allow air to fill up the lower part of the lung. The prerequisite for belly breathing is the chest and belly must be able to move freely. It is doable if you work out with machine because the body is well supported. For working out with free weight, the chest and belly are not allowed to move freely for some exercises. For examples:-Chest movement is restricted by holding the weights: dumbbell squat, bicep curl, lunge, stepup, etc..-Chest is restricting on dumbbell one arm row because of the supporting arm. The diaphragm movement may be restricted because the spine compresses on the belly.-Doable exercises in which the chest is free: chest fly, bench press, shoulder press, and overhead or lying tri-x.Also, there is a possibility of overtraining following the intermediate program of either muscle size or strength. Working out with heavy weight (6-8 reps) in the strength routine or a lot of volume like in muscle size routine three times a week may be too much if you have been training for a long time. The other book by Dr. Baechle and Roger Earle --Fitness Weight Training resolves the possibility of overtraining by going to two day split as soon as the weight gets heavier (like in the 8-10 rep range or lower), or when the volume starts to increase. With two day split, you only work each muscle group only twice a week instead of three times a week like that in the full body routine, thus allows the body more time to recover.

I think this book is a great resource for those who want to learn correct form when it comes to training older adults. This book explains proper form for a variety of exercises as well as lists common errors with respect to improper form. I would recommend this book to someone new to training clients over 55 years old.

the authors previous books have always been very good and this one is even better very good advice and bang upto date information in it a very good book

This is precisely what I expected from Thomas R. Baechle. He is an excellent writer and a true professional in the strength and conditioning field.Danny

Covers every phase of training , Could have been a college course . A must read for the enthusiast .

I just retired and was looking for a good book for a daily workout routine at the gym. This book was written and illustrated well.Easy to set up a routine and then proceed to more advanced workouts.

Excellent guide and reference book for all levels. No reason for seniors not to get active and this book is an inspiration..

I HAVE READ AND REFERENCED THIS BOOK MANY TIMES OVER THE LAST 6 MONTHS.THE INFORMATION IS SUPERB CONSIDERING 99% OF SIMILAR INFORMATION SEEMSTO BE TARGETED AT MUCH MUCH YOUNGER PEOPLE. EVERYTHING I READ I HAVE TO THEN PUT IT INTO CONTEXT OF ITS SUITABLITY FOR SOMEONE WHO IS 60 AND ACTIVE. THERE IS SO LITTLE GOOD INFORMATION AIMED AT THIS LEVEL THAT I WOULD 100% RECOMMEND THIS BOOK IF YOU ARE OVER 50. ITS EASY TO READ, LOTS OF PICTURES AND IT ENABLES YOU TO WORK OUT YOUR OWN PROGRAMME STEP BY STEP. THE INFORMATION IS BASED ON SOME OF THE LATEST SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE WHICH IS ALSO QUITE REASSURING.

Exactly the book needed for school.Fair price.

A worthwhile purchase for any trainer, not just for those working with older adults. Nicely evidence based with clear suggestions for practice and lots of illustrated exercises.

Waste of money... Mot of the book is about exercices techniques for machine training. The first part is general recommandations, nothing new and nothing specific for aging people. There is absolutely nothing about body weight training and the last section on nutrition is almost a joke! This book would be useful though for someone who is absolutely new to weight training.