Here’s a story that’s picked up steam internationally and shows the lifechanging power of strength training for mature adults.
After breaking her wrist in 2025, Christine Tan couldn’t lift a cup of tea with her injured hand. Today, the 82-year-old London woman attends gym classes about four times a week.
Her comeback, first shared by Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, has drawn coverage from People magazine and UK news outlet MyLondon.
Tan, a retired nurse, already enjoyed tai chi, yoga and Zumba. But she had never lifted weights. During her rehabilitation, she joined Lift for Life, a program at Guy’s Hospital that pairs weekly group sessions with exercises tailored by physiotherapists.
“You start with light weights and gradually build up,” she said.
Tan also had been diagnosed with osteopenia, or reduced bone density. Initially nervous about heavier weights, she gained strength and returned to activities she had struggled to manage.
Carrying groceries and handling everyday tasks became possible again. She now tries to walk 10,000 steps each day.
The hospital’s 10-week program helps participants develop an exercise routine they can continue at home or at a local gym. The aim is to build strength, confidence and the ability to manage daily life.
A cup of tea, a shopping bag, a favorite exercise class: these are ordinary pleasures until an injury puts them out of reach.
Her story is an encouraging reminder that getting stronger can have a practical payoff at any age, and that starting small can lead to meaningful progress.
Source: Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust.
Holly Kouvo is a personal trainer, functional aging specialist, senior fitness specialist, brain health trainer, writer, and speaker.