Are there really exercises to avoid after 50? Over the course of my career, I’ve worked with many people over the age of 50 who enjoy the same activities they do in their 40s, such as surfing, tennis, hockey, running, and hiking. I’ve been is no.
None of these activities are considered “joint-friendly”. Of course, you may have to make some changes to keep having fun.
So why do some people see age as just a number, while others see it as a time to slow down and stop doing certain things?
After the age of 50, the two most common reasons people avoid their favorite activities are 1) fear that pain can damage the body and 2) simply not being told by a medical professional. because it was broken.
Fear that pain is damaging
When it comes to musculoskeletal pain, pain itself is usually not the biggest concern for most people. People are willing to endure some pain even at the cost of doing what they really love. I’ve been doing it all through my 20’s and 30’s. But as we get older, fear sets in when we are in pain. Additionally, as you get older, it becomes harder to recover from injuries, and some rationalize that it is better to avoid certain activities altogether because they are “safer” than getting hurt. .
So does pain mean we are doing damage? Not necessarily. Pain is simply a signal from your brain that it wants your attention to something. Don’t ignore it, but don’t be afraid either. Pain often means that something needs to be adjusted or changed. Once you understand what your pain is telling you, you can take appropriate action. This is one of the secrets to being able to continue doing what you love into your 50s and beyond. Learn how to “talk” to your pain.
A medical professional told you to avoid certain activities
When you’re younger, you’re more likely to take a wait-and-see approach to dealing with pain. But as we get older, pain becomes a greater concern and we are more likely to seek professional medical help sooner. There are a lot of well-meaning medical professionals who aren’t necessarily research savvy. A mix of messages and “old school” advice for many patients.
For example, many physicians have come to rely on imaging (X-rays and MRIs) as the basis for diagnosing musculoskeletal pain and subsequent treatment planning/recommendations. When x-rays show “bone-to-bone” arthritis, people start talking about joint replacement surgery and are told to stop activities that can further “damage” the joint. , saying that 70-80% of all musculoskeletal problems can be resolved without intervention or surgery (even for those over the age of 50). How your pain behaves is most important. Not your age, arthritis, or image.
Here’s a real case study that illustrates what I’m talking about.
A while ago I met a 55 year old woman (call her Kate). This woman had knee pain that prevented her from hiking and running. She was told by an orthopedic surgeon that a knee replacement was the only option because of the “bone and bone” in her knee. When Kate asked about her knee replacement surgery and asked if she could wait, her doctor’s response was to scale back her activities and stop running and hiking altogether.However, Kate’s her X Just because a radiograph showed osteoarthritis in her knee doesn’t mean it’s the cause of her knee pain. Research tells us this. It’s entirely possible that Kate’s pain in her knee was due to something other than her ‘bone-to-bone’ arthritis—did she really need surgery? Did she really need to stop running and hiking? Having a knee replacement without seeing if arthritis really was the main cause of her knee pain would have cost her unnecessary surgery. Not only do you run the risk of injury, but you will also be delayed by several months for recovery.
First, lack of exercise is one of the worst things about arthritis. People who stay active in weight-bearing activities have been shown to have less arthritis than those who avoid putting pressure on their joints. ‘ and then ‘On’. Because you can’t reverse ‘bone-to-bone’ arthritis with movement, and certainly not very quickly. Mechanical problems in the spine and joints do not show up on x-rays. So you don’t want to rely solely on images to determine pain. Also, don’t rely solely on images to decide whether or not to have surgery.
If you’re older, know that age-related changes such as arthritis are normal and nothing to fear. This is an important signal to warn you to take action. Not always the same damage. Educate yourself on these topics, and ask more questions if you’re told to stop working “just because” or if surgery is your only option because of your image.
Physiotherapist and Pilates expert Dr. Carrie Jose owns CJ Physical Therapy & Pilates in Portsmouth and writes for Seacoast Media Group. To get in touch with her or request a free copy of her knee pain guide, email info@cjphysicaltherapy.com or call 603-605-0402.
