It doesn’t take an NFL linebacker to use the TV remote control, press the garage door opener, or operate a computer.

So why should anybody care about muscular strength to cope with life in the new millennium? Why can’t we limit our exercise to a nice artery-clearing aerobic workout?

Who really needs muscular strength, except for athletes and laborers?

The answer is everyone.

“Muscles are where energy is released, power is produced, and where movement originates,” says Ellington Darden, Ph.D., author of more than three dozen fitness-related books. “In addition to being the engine of the body, muscle is also the shock absorber. Strength enhances the integrity of the joints, guarding against painful tears in the connective tissues of the knees, neck, shoulders, elbows, ankles and—above all—the lower back.”

Darden isn’t the only one singing the praises of muscular strength. In his book Biomarkers, William Evans, Ph.D., lists muscle mass and strength among “the 10 determinants of aging you can control.”

“Much of what we call aging,” Evans explains, “is nothing more than the accumulation of a lifetime of inactivity. Muscles shrink. Body fat increases. The results are an increased risk of diabetes, hypertension and osteoporosis. By preserving muscle mass, we can prevent these problems from occurring.”

Building a sheath of protective, well-toned muscle can limit minor mishaps. Strength can also help prevent many chronic aches and pains. Says Dr. Vert Mooney, an orthopedic physician spearheading research at the University of California in San Deigo: “Most chronic musculoskeletal pain problems are a result of a weak link about a join in the spin, arms or legs. This weak link is in the soft tissues.”

How do you strengthen soft tissues? Strength training. A reserve of strength can also protect against back problems, osteoporosis and minor injuries. It is even a heart-saver.

Both Evans and Darden say not to discount the elderly in matters of muscle. A young person may benefit 10 to 20 percent in functional capacity from strengthening, while an elderly person gains 50 percent.

“We can make 65-year-olds stronger than they’ve ever been in their lives,” Evans claims. “We can make a 90-year-old stronger than a 50-year-old. Our oldest exerciser is 100 years old. We can triple muscle strength in old people.”

Here’s more good news about strength training: The more muscle you add to your body, the more your resting metabolism increases. That enables you to burn calories while the body is at rest.

In research for the basis of his book 32 Days to a 32-Inch Waist (Taylor Publishing), Darden showed that the typical male can reduce his waistline by about one-half-inch per week on an eating plan of approximately 1,500 calories daily and three half-hour strength training workouts per week.

The strength component of a well-rounded fitness program should include “resistance training” for all the major muscles two to three times per week on nonconsecutive days. Weight lifting, or even Nautilus training, workouts can be as brief as 20 minutes provided the intensity level is sufficient.

The basic training formula is a mesh of: Frequency (how often), Duration (how long), and Intensity (how hard). On a Nautilus-type machine Darden advocates “one set to failure,” which means selecting the maximum weight you can life eight to 12 times without stopping.

If you choose a free-weight program, allow for more time to load and unload bars, and learn the safety precautions.

To reap the benefits of strength training or any kind of exercise, the sowing has to be ongoing and consistent. You can put neither muscle nor bone in the bank. They’re constantly being broken down and rebuilt. Remember that fitness is a journey, not a destination.

Start today! And as your strength increases, be careful not to squeeze too hard on the remote control. You wouldn’t want to get up to change channels.