Why Strength Training is Still More Important Than the Industry Lets On

New research suggests strength, and specifically “power,” are vital to long-term health. Matrix Fitness has made the moves to support individuals in pursuit of both. 

The secret to a longer, healthier life isn’t a secret anymore. While strength training has always been viewed as a modality with benefits adjacent to long-term health, independence and longevity, today, it’s widely recognized as a critical driver of all three. 

“The way that we think about aging has been evolving over time,” said Dr. Karlie Intlekofer, Global Research Scientist for Matrix Fitness. “We’re getting more research, we’re getting more data and we’re also getting more personal insights about how people feel as they age and what’s contributing to that.”

As a leading commercial equipment provider with an abundance of innovative strength products, Matrix is among the top investors in this modern strength appeal. Through partnerships and intuitive product design, the brand is building for a future that continues to expand in years.

The New Strength Approach

Dr. Intlekofer argues that strength has a stronger, more enduring correlation to longevity than body weight, cholesterol or blood pressure, which previously dominated the conversation.

“What makes muscle especially interesting is that it remains highly trainable through life,” Dr. Intlekofer explained. “It doesn’t matter what age you are. You can essentially put on muscle during any decade of life, which makes it a good, actionable target if you want to extend your health span and lifespan.”

Research recently published by JAMA Networks supports this notion that strength carries the strongest link to longevity. This February, the medical journal published a study that found a connection between greater muscular strength and lower mortality for women between 63 and 99 years old, even among those not meeting guideline-recommended activity levels. 

Power is Premium, Yet Difficult to Attain

However, Dr. Intlekofer believes getting buff will only get you part of the way there. While strength refers to the maximum forces muscle can produce, power is the ability to leverage it quickly, and it’s emerging as a crucial target for longevity.

“Life more frequently demands the ability to produce force rapidly,” Dr. Intlekofer said. “That’s the power side of the equation — catching yourself before you fall, stepping over an obstacle, climbing stairs or getting out of a chair before your momentum is lost. Those efforts are more power-based and may be even more important than strength for predicting who’s going to take a spill and suffer an injury from a fall, or who’s going to last longer living independently.”

A different study published by The Mayo Clinic also supported muscle power as a stronger predictor of longevity than strength alone. Of the 3,889 male and female adult participants, those with the lowest muscle power had roughly six times higher mortality risk than those with the highest power, whereas low strength was not significantly associated with mortality after accounting for other factors.

However, understanding the importance of power is easier than establishing it. The latter requires an added layer of attention. 

“The problem is that power relies on these fast-twitch muscle fibers, and they decline more rapidly than the slow-twitch ones as we age,” Dr. Intlekofer said. “So, they’re more vulnerable. If you don’t train it, you lose it.”

Average gym-goers often lack the education or guidance required to build power as well. Most facilities still feature standard machines, unable to deliver the personalized insights and guidance required for development. They invite you to walk in, hit arms at the same weight every week and then call it a day. 

Matrix is the Solution

Matrix designs its products specifically with these considerations and challenges in mind. The brand recently partnered with seca, a global leader in medical-grade measuring and body composition analytical solutions. Seca’s body-scanning tech relays detailed intel with medical-grade accuracy to inform personalized programming that helps users develop power, among other key pillars of longevity and health.  

“There’s a new level of accuracy in these machines that we didn’t see 10 or 20 years ago,” Dr. Intlekofer said. “It tells you how much muscle or fat you have on all your body segments. We’re talking left arm, right arm, left leg, right leg and torso. It gives the consumer more detailed information on what to target and where to improve, including imbalances.”

The brands also recently launched PACE, a program that provides users with personalized workout regimens and guidance after a body scan. Guidelines adapt as users work out as well, making PACE ideal for progression and confidence-building in even the most directionless strength trainers. 

“If someone accomplishes less than they intended, or if an exercise takes them too long, that factors in,” Dr. Intlekofer said. “On the other side of the coin, if someone’s a go-getter and doesn’t feel the weights that were prescribed were enough, as they lift more or do more repetitions, that’s also factored in, so that their next workout can be a tad more challenging.”

Dr. Intlekofer also noted that by handling these responsibilities, solutions like PACE free up gym staff to provide closer, more personal workout assistance as well. 

The Information Keeps Flowing

Whether it’s strength training or other markers of health and fitness, Matrix remains committed to researching and providing these solutions to help individuals live longer. In 2024, the brand launched the Matrix Research Hub, a program dedicated to providing educational content, such as the Research Hub Podcast, for operators and consumers. 

The brand also carries a research and development team focused on investigating up-and-coming consumer demands. The group observes industry activity to stay informed and ahead. 

“We try to look at trends — not only what fitness professionals say is going to be hot, but also what consumers are actually looking for,” Dr. Intlekofer said. “We’re staying on top of these things.”