Ageing strong: Why muscle matters

Talk Description
We all know exercise is good for us, but did you know that losing muscle is one of the biggest reasons we become less mobile as we age?

From climbing stairs to carrying groceries, muscle plays a vital role in keeping us healthy, active and resilient. Dr Sibi Walter will explore why we naturally lose muscle over time, how this contributes to falls, frailty and chronic conditions, and what we can do to fight back. Drawing on insights from high-performance sports science, discover how the same evidence-based strength training principles used by elite athletes can help all of us stay stronger, healthier and more independent for longer.
Bio
Dr Sibi Walter is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Health Sciences at the University of Canterbury. He is an internationally qualified physiotherapist and strength and conditioning coach with extensive experience helping athletes become stronger, reduce injury risk, and optimise performance. He has worked across India, Denmark, Sweden, and New Zealand in both clinical and high-performance sport settings. Since 2015, he has been a lecturer at the University of Canterbury. His current interests focus on translating high-performance sports science knowledge to the wider community, particularly in the areas of healthy ageing, physical function, and quality of life. His work explores how strength training and exercise can help people remain active, independent, and healthy throughout the ageing process.