I Started Strength Training at 75 With Arthritic Knees. Here's What Changed! - Ep 048

From walking stick to 55kg deadlift, this is what strength training over 70 can really look like. Phil was 75 years old when he first came to see me. He had two serious knee injuries (2016 and 2018), no gym history whatsoever, and no expectations beyond getting a bit of help calming his knees down.He was using a walking stick regularly, couldn't kneel down, and had given up on his garden for two years. By the time we filmed this conversation in 2021, he was deadlifting 55 kilograms for 10 reps. That's almost his entire bodyweight (he's since gone on to deadlift 75kg and backsquat 65kg).This is one of the most powerful stories in the Never Too Old to Lift archive, and it's exactly why I believe strength training for older adults is one of the most important things we can be talking about.In this episode, we cover:What it actually felt like to walk into a gym for the first time at 75 with no exercise backgroundHow Phil kept training through COVID lockdowns with a resistance band and a cleaning bagThe moment he realised something had genuinely changedDeadlifting 55kg, squatting 45kg, and losing two stoneWhy he believes guided professional support is the key to exercising safely with knee problemsWhy the fear of injury from strength training is, in his words, unfairPhil still comes to my over-60s strengthening class every week. He's still lifting. Still gardening. Still kneeling in church.If you're wondering whether it's too late to start strength training, or whether your knees, your age, or your lack of gym experience mean it's not for someone like you, Phil is your answer.Shownotes:For the full show notes page, go to:https://nevertoooldtolift.com/podcast048/New to strength training and not sure where to start?Download the free ebook, which walks you through how to build your first strength training programme, including which exercises to choose and how to progress them at your own pace.nevertoooldtolift.com/ebookReady to take the next step?If this episode has got you thinking it's time to actually get started. Stronger for Life is the online course and community designed specifically for adults over 50 who want to build strength safely and confidently, with the guidance of a physiotherapist every step of the way.Find out more at nevertoooldtolift.com/course