Starting Strength Coach Grant Broggi saw a man in his 70s doing one-legged isometric holds on a BOSU ball — and it broke his heart. Not because the man didn't care about his health, but because he clearly did… and was wasting his time.
In this video, Grant explains why balance work and machine isolation exercises do almost nothing to fight age-related muscle loss (sarcopenia), why the body must be trained as a system, and the four barbell lifts — squat, press, bench press, deadlift — that actually build strength at any age. Yes, any age: one of our members is 97 and still setting deadlift PRs.
If your mom, dad, uncle, or grandparent "works out" but isn't getting stronger, send them this video.