Why Muscle Recovery Gets Slower With Age (And How to Speed It Back Up)
If you have been working out for more than a few years, you have probably noticed that the soreness after a hard session seems to last a little longer than it used to. What used to be an overnight recovery now stretches into two or three days. And if you are north of 50, a tough leg day can make walking uncomfortable well into the following week. Here is the thing: this is completely normal. It is not a sign that you are getting weaker or that something is wrong. It is just your biology doing what biology does over time. And the good news is that once you understand why it happens, you can do quite a lot about it. The Short Answer: Your Hormones and Muscles Both Change When you exercise, your muscles sustain tiny amounts of damage. Your body responds by repairing them and building them back slightly stronger. That process is powered largely by growth hormone and testosterone, both of which start declining in your 30s. Fewer of these hormones in circulation means slower, less efficient ...