Why Power Is Important As We Age
Most people aren't familiar with movements like the Power Clean but if you saw it you might recognize it from the Olympics.
The Power Clean is one of our favorite movements. Not just because it looks athletic but because it builds something we lose without realizing it: power.
What the Power Clean actually builds
The Power Clean isn’t just a strength exercise, it’s a skill.
It trains your body and brain to work together in a series of micro movements, building:
✅ Neuro-muscular coordination – your brain and muscles learning to work together at the right time.
✅ Explosive power – teaching your body to produce force quickly.
✅ Balance and stability – every rep demands control through your core, hips, and legs.
It’s the kind of training that pays off far beyond the gym.
As we age, we naturally lose muscle; but what disappears even faster is power: the ability to move quickly, catch ourselves, or react in time to a stumble.
That power loss is one of the biggest reasons older adults experience falls and injuries. It’s not just about being strong enough, it’s about being quick enough.
The Power Clean (and other explosive movements we teach) helps you retrain your fast-twitch muscle fibers, the ones that keep you quick, springy, and stable.
When you keep those fibers active, you maintain agility, coordination, and balance- the things that keep you moving confidently for years to come.
Everyday life is full of mini “power moments”:
- Catching yourself when you trip on the curb.
- Reacting quickly when your kid tosses you something.
- Standing up from the floor or a low chair with ease.
Ideally without throwing out your back too.
Those moments rely on the same coordination and power you build through lifts like the Power Clean.
So when we say this movement is functional, we mean it in the truest sense: it literally helps you stay capable and independent for life.
The Power Clean isn’t just about barbells, it’s about aging better, moving smarter, and staying sharp.
It reminds us that strength is great, but power keeps us young.
At FRVR FIT, we teach Olympic-style movements like the Power Clean with proper technique, step-by-step progressions, and coaching for your level. We help each person in class find the best variation for them depending on their skill and experience.
You don’t have to be an athlete to build power, just willing to learn.
Next time you avoid a fall or react quickly to something coming at you, think about the split-second coordination and power it took.
