|
|
Health Fitness Articles
|
Over 40 sport injuries| How to avoid exercise injury for baby boomers
|
More baby boomers over 40 years of age are exercising
regularly
More and more
people, who are over forty or those born in 1946 to 1964 (the baby boomers),
are realizing the benefits of taking up some form of sports or exercising
regularly in a gym. They are much more aware that regular exercise and gym
workouts not only slow down the aging process but will also give them more
years of active lifestyle and a better quality of life.
This
is well and good as exercising regularly severely cut down the risks of
getting age and obesity related diseases such as diabetes, heart diseases,
stroke, some forms of cancers which can be potentially fatal. Nobody likes to
die young if they can help it and over forties baby boomers know it.
It is
heartening to know that more over
forties babyboomers are taking charge of their health by exercising and
working out regularly so as to improve their lives and are becoming fitter,
healthier and stronger. Many are so successful with exercising that they do
not look or feel their age.
However, with more middle aged people
exercising and playing some form of sports, instances of injuries sustained
from these exercise related activities have risen substantially. Partly due to
ignorance and partly to nonchalant attitudes.
In the United States, these gym or sports injuries
have become the number 2 reason for people visiting the doctor’s office, with
the common cough and cold at the number 1 position, as reported by the
National Ambulatory Medical Care in 2003.
A
Consumer Product Safety Commission research in 1998 found that sports related
injuries to over 40s baby boomers had risen by 33 percent since 1991 and
contributed to US$18.7 billion in medical costs. That is a lot of money and
the money can be saved if the baby boomers make simple efforts to avoid
workout injuries.
Gyms in all developed countries are exuberantly
reporting skyrocketing sales in new gym memberships year after year with a
large pool of their members being the over forties baby boomers brigade. Males
and females alike, the baby boomers are trying hard to slow down the aging
process because they now have more disposable income, free time and better
health education than their predecessors did.
As
over forties baby boomers get older, their susceptibility to sports
injuries start to rise proportionately. As people age, their body degenerate
along with their age, although exercising regularly is supposed to slow down
this very degeneration process.
This
is particularly so for the risky weekend warriors who take to the running
tracks or lifting weights to build their body with gusto only during weekends,
putting their aging bodies and joints to sudden busts of unaccustomed
stressful activities, ignorantly causing severe stress and damages to their
own bodies.
What are the common over 40s
baby boomer’s sports and gym injuries?
-
Shoulder injuries – Common for those
playing squash, tennis, badminton and lifting weights in the gym using wrong
form and techniques. Our shoulders are the most unstable joints in our body
and that is why extra care must be taken when exercising the shoulders.
-
Elbow injuries – People who play racket
games and bodybuilders especially those whose are focusing on building big
arms.
-
Back injuries – A very common occurrence in
the gym amongst baby boomer bodybuilder wannabes. Also a common injury for
golfers who often have to swing their spine to hit the golf balls.
-
Knee injuries – For over 40s baby boomers
who participate in sports with sudden movements and changes of directions such
as squash, rugby and soccer.
-
Ankle injuries - Usually afflicting the
middle aged runners, joggers and robust sport participants.
How to avoid the risks of
sports injuries for the over forties baby boomers?
Common sense though the answers
are, it is uncommon to see the over forties baby boomers doing them. Isn't
that an irony when we get injured?
-
Thorough warm of the muscles and joints which will
be involved in the exercise or sport about to be undertaken.
-
Stretching adequately and correctly. Most people
stretch in the wrong manner which then may cause even more injuries.
-
Take the exercises or sports intensity one step at
a time, then as your stamina and strength improve over time, you can then
increase the intensity of the sport or the exercise. Rest in between days to
let your body recuperate, recharge and heal after all the rigorous bashing.
-
By exercing regularly, not just at weekends. Do
not be a weekend warrior. Your body may not be able to cope with the sudden
outburst and battering that you inflict on it each weekend.
-
Engage a professional sports fitness
personal trainer who can tailor an exercise program suitable to your
health condition and guide you safely through the exercises. Remember that you
are not that young anymore.
So baby boomers, don't become a victim of your
exercises. You want to be fit and healthy, not suffering from pain and
despondency from what could have been an enjoyable game or healthy sporting
activity.
Yes. For those of us who are over 40s, sport
and workout injuries can be avoided and we can enjoy our exercises, freedom
from pain and immobility.
Your Fitness Coach
|
Copyright © 2008 MyStore, Inc. All rights reserved. Everything about getting a beautiful body. Lose fat or gain weight, build muscles, health hypnosis, get tight round butt, certified gym instructor courses, get fitness model body etc
|