Health Tip: When you hear the term “strength training,” perhaps you envision someone with bulging biceps and rippling abdominal muscles. But strength training can benefit people of all ages and athletic abilities—whether you are 40 or 85, well toned or unable to rise from a wheelchair without assistance.

Studies attest that strength training, as well as aerobic exercise, can help you manage and sometimes prevent conditions as varied as heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, and osteoporosis. It can also protect vitality, make everyday tasks more manageable, and help you maintain a healthy weight.