5 Muscles To Strengthen As You Age
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TL;DR

A Nov. 13 New York Times report asked physical therapy and rehabilitation experts which muscles people should prioritize as they age. The available source names the glutes and quadriceps, emphasizing their roles in everyday movement and balance; the preview does not show the article’s full list of five muscle groups.

The New York Times published a report on Nov. 13 asking physical therapy and rehabilitation experts which muscles people should prioritize strengthening with age, identifying the glutes and quadriceps among the key groups for everyday movement. The supplied article preview does not include the complete list of five, so the other recommendations cannot be confirmed from the available text.

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The report frames strength training as a way to help maintain strength and mobility as muscles weaken and tendons tighten over time. Its question is practical: among more than 600 muscles in the body, which ones support the movements people rely on in daily life? The article says it put that question to physical therapy and rehabilitation experts.

The excerpt names the gluteal muscles as a priority. Experts cited their role in keeping the pelvis level while walking and helping a person regain balance after a stumble, especially when a sideways step is needed. The report also identifies the quadriceps in its section heading, but the provided preview cuts off before it explains their specific role or recommends exercises for them.

Odessa Addison, a professor of physical therapy and rehabilitation science at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, said her focus on fall prevention shaped her view of the glutes’ importance. The excerpt notes that squats and dead lifts are familiar exercises that target the gluteus maximus, the largest gluteal muscle. It does not provide a complete training plan, dosage, or guidance tailored to people with particular health conditions.

At a glance
reportWhen: Published Nov. 13, 2026
The developmentThe New York Times published a report on Nov. 13, 2026, asking rehabilitation experts which muscles people should prioritize strengthening as they age.

Strength for Daily Movement and Balance

The report puts functional movement rather than appearance at the center of its advice. Getting out of bed, climbing stairs and walking all depend on strength, while recovering balance after a stumble can involve a quick change of direction. The excerpt’s focus on glutes reflects the importance experts place on those capabilities as people age.

This is useful for readers trying to make strength training practical, but the available material supports only a partial takeaway: it identifies glutes and quadriceps, and explains why experts singled out the glutes. It does not establish that these are the only muscles worth training or that strengthening them alone prevents falls. The recommendations should be read as expert guidance reported by the newspaper, not as an individualized exercise prescription.

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How the Report Selected Muscles

The article begins from the premise that muscle strength and mobility can decline with age, and that exercise, particularly weight training, can help people maintain them. Instead of surveying every muscle, the reporter asked physical therapy and rehabilitation specialists to identify areas that support common activities.

The published excerpt introduces a section titled “Butt Muscles and Quads” and explains why glutes matter for walking and balance. The supplied source is an access-check preview that stops partway through that section. Although the headline promises five muscle groups, the preview does not show all five or the full reasoning behind the recommendations. No additional muscle groups should be inferred from the headline alone.

““I come at this as a physical therapist and somebody who specializes in fall prevention, so that’s what I’m thinking about.””

— Odessa Addison, professor of physical therapy and rehabilitation science at the University of Maryland School of Medicine

The Preview Leaves Four Picks Unconfirmed

The source provided for this article is a partial preview, not the full New York Times report. It confirms that the article identifies glutes and quadriceps in a section heading and describes the glutes’ role, but it does not reveal the complete set of five muscle groups. The remaining recommendations, their supporting explanations and any exercise guidance are therefore not confirmed by the available source.

The excerpt also gives no comparative evidence ranking muscle groups, no prescribed training frequency or intensity, and no advice for readers with injuries or medical conditions. It is not clear from the supplied text whether the full report includes those details. The recommendations described here should not be treated as proof that a particular exercise prevents falls or as a substitute for professional guidance.

Full Article Details Remain Needed

The next step for readers seeking the complete five-group list is to consult the full New York Times article, if available. The preview says the newspaper was checking access and that the full article would load once access was confirmed; the supplied material does not show whether that happened.

Until the full text is available, only the named groups and explanations in the preview can be reported. Readers considering new strength exercises can start by discussing suitable movements with a qualified health professional, particularly if they have an existing condition, pain or mobility limitations.

Key Questions

Which muscles does the available report excerpt identify?

The excerpt identifies the glutes and quadriceps in a section heading. It explains the glutes’ role in walking and balance but does not provide the full discussion of the quadriceps.

What does the excerpt say the glutes do?

It says the glutes help keep the pelvis level while walking and help a person recover balance after a stumble, particularly when stepping sideways.

Does the provided source give all five muscle groups?

No. The supplied New York Times text is a partial preview and does not show the complete list promised by the headline. The other muscle groups cannot be confirmed from it.

Does the excerpt prescribe a strength-training routine?

No. It mentions squats and dead lifts as familiar movements that target the gluteus maximus, but gives no complete routine, schedule or training dose.

Source: nytimes.com

Wellness content on this site is informational and not a substitute for professional medical guidance.
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