Aging Athlete Care
The Aging Athlete
The aging athlete is the group of 40-60 year olds that have continued their athletic endeavors or have taken up some sort of athletic activity in mid-adulthood. Exercising throughout life is a great practice because research has shown its positive effects on the aging process. However, as we continue to age our body becomes more prone to injury due to the fact that our bones, muscles, and even tendons begin to breakdown or become less elastic.
Those who continue to exercise into their later adult years in fact tend to slow down the aging process. However, as we get older our bones become less stable, our muscles begin to decrease in size, and tendons and ligaments are less elastic. For an athlete, who continues to exercise vigorously, these body changes pose an increased risk to injury. In fact, overuse injury amongst the 40-60 year old group is markedly more common compared to an individual in their 20's.
The aging athlete is often separated into three different categories to help further explain their problems and needs. The older athlete is someone that is over 50 and still involved competitively in sports. This person most often exercises multiple times per week and has practiced this routine for a number of years. Their main concern is an acute injury that temporarily halts their ability to exercise and compete.
The second category of the aging athlete is known as the former athlete. As the title suggests, at one time this personn was very dedicated to a sport and in good physical condition. However, as he or she aged they became less involved in exercise and deconditioned. Problems caused by this are usually degenerative like tendonitis.
The final form of the aging athlete is the prematurely mature athlete. This patient is always younger, 25-40, and has a history of frequent injury. Despite swelling or trauma that the premature mature athlete displays, they continue to participate in demanding sports.
There are a number of preventative steps to take in order to decrease the risk of suffering from the common aches and pains the aging athlete suffers from. After all, in order to enjoy activities and reap the benefits of exercise an individual needs to be physically able to perform. One technique that has proven effective is altering your sport periodically. If you are a runner, try switching to cycling for a while to give your knees a rest. Flexibility is also crucial to avoiding muscle tears. Good flexibility also enables your body to align properly which goes a long way in preventing overuse injuries. Strengthening exercises also help the body absorb impact from different sports. Finally, one of the most important things to remember as an aging athlete is aerobic conditioning. The risk of heart disease, among many other cardiovascular issues, can be greatly reduced by maintaining adequate aerobic endurance.
As we grow older many people believe our bodies simply stop working because of our age. However, this common misconception can be viewed from another angle; our bodies grow old because we stop moving. Regular bouts of aerobic and anaerobic exercise can help prevent adverse health effects and keep our body in great shape, despite our age. Consulting a physical therapist at Mahnattan Physical Therapy & Pain Center can help you create a training regimen to fit your needs, as well as effective injury prevention measures to keep in mind.
The aging athlete is the group of 40-60 year olds that have continued their athletic endeavors or have taken up some sort of athletic activity in mid-adulthood. Exercising throughout life is a great practice because research has shown its positive effects on the aging process. However, as we continue to age our body becomes more prone to injury due to the fact that our bones, muscles, and even tendons begin to breakdown or become less elastic.
Those who continue to exercise into their later adult years in fact tend to slow down the aging process. However, as we get older our bones become less stable, our muscles begin to decrease in size, and tendons and ligaments are less elastic. For an athlete, who continues to exercise vigorously, these body changes pose an increased risk to injury. In fact, overuse injury amongst the 40-60 year old group is markedly more common compared to an individual in their 20's.
The aging athlete is often separated into three different categories to help further explain their problems and needs. The older athlete is someone that is over 50 and still involved competitively in sports. This person most often exercises multiple times per week and has practiced this routine for a number of years. Their main concern is an acute injury that temporarily halts their ability to exercise and compete.
The second category of the aging athlete is known as the former athlete. As the title suggests, at one time this personn was very dedicated to a sport and in good physical condition. However, as he or she aged they became less involved in exercise and deconditioned. Problems caused by this are usually degenerative like tendonitis.
The final form of the aging athlete is the prematurely mature athlete. This patient is always younger, 25-40, and has a history of frequent injury. Despite swelling or trauma that the premature mature athlete displays, they continue to participate in demanding sports.
There are a number of preventative steps to take in order to decrease the risk of suffering from the common aches and pains the aging athlete suffers from. After all, in order to enjoy activities and reap the benefits of exercise an individual needs to be physically able to perform. One technique that has proven effective is altering your sport periodically. If you are a runner, try switching to cycling for a while to give your knees a rest. Flexibility is also crucial to avoiding muscle tears. Good flexibility also enables your body to align properly which goes a long way in preventing overuse injuries. Strengthening exercises also help the body absorb impact from different sports. Finally, one of the most important things to remember as an aging athlete is aerobic conditioning. The risk of heart disease, among many other cardiovascular issues, can be greatly reduced by maintaining adequate aerobic endurance.
As we grow older many people believe our bodies simply stop working because of our age. However, this common misconception can be viewed from another angle; our bodies grow old because we stop moving. Regular bouts of aerobic and anaerobic exercise can help prevent adverse health effects and keep our body in great shape, despite our age. Consulting a physical therapist at Mahnattan Physical Therapy & Pain Center can help you create a training regimen to fit your needs, as well as effective injury prevention measures to keep in mind.
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