On Hypertrophy and Functional Training

This is just a quick thought inspired by some of our discussion of squat depth the last two weeks or so (see here, here, here, and here).  Ralfe summed it up best when he talked about how bodybuilders are accused of trying to get big muscles without necessarily getting the functional benefit.  For men, it really becomes clear in your forties that you lose muscle mass.  It's a big contribution to frailty and gradual loss of function that goes on with aging.  There are actually real benefits to just increasing muscle mass independent of flexibility and balance.  I don't want to ignore those two, just make the point that muscle mass is important all by itself, particularly as you get older.