Older people should exercise to build their muscles even into their 80s, according to a new review which suggests it will help them with everyday tasks.

Climbing the stairs, housework, walking and even washing were made easier if elderly people worked out two or three times a week, researchers found.

People lose muscle as they age, which can make daily chores more difficult.

But working out by using small weights or elastic bands can help to rebuild these muscles, a review of the available evidence shows, while the risks of developing an injury are low for older people.

Chiung-ju Liu of the Department of Occupational Therapy at Indiana University, who carried out the study, said: "Older adults seem to benefit from this type of exercise even at the age of 80, and even with some type of health condition.

"The data support the idea that muscle strength is largely improved after the training, and the impact on older adults' daily activities can be significant.

"Simply having enough strength to do things such as carrying groceries would make a difference for senior (citizens)."

The study, published in The Cochrane Library, looked at 121 trials, involving 6,700 people over the age of 60, all of whom exercised between two and three times a week.

Source: Kate Devlin, The Daily Telegraph, U.K.