The print version of yesterday’s Wall Street Journal (Tuesday October 9, 2007, page D 1) has an article describing an emerging trend that the number of senior athletes (defined as athletes over 40) is growing, and so is interest in sports medicine tailored for these athletes.
The recommendations listed look like what many of us are already doing: Don’t slow down, but do recognize that recovery takes longer than it did in our twenties.
As the body ages, muscles become slower and weaker, most significantly affecting speed, balance and the ability to recover from injuries.
…older athletes should focus more on balance and flexibility, in addition to pure strength and cardiovascular activity. These activities are important for any age, but particularly so in middle age and beyond, when overuse injuries and falls are of greater concern.
Something we already knew:
Studies of active, older athletes have yielded encouraging findings related to health and aging. A June study in the International Journal of Sports Medicine found that average marathon times remained essentially the same from the 20s through the 40s and then declined less than 5% a decade in the 50s and 60s.
Sorry, no link for this one. If you have a WSJ Online subscription the title of the print article was: Senior Play: The Graying of Sports Medicine
