One of the most controversial topics in the sports world is whether older athletes should continue doing sports. Even though physical activity is good for your body and mental health, older people are known for having more fragile bones. Should that stop them from enjoying their free-time activities?
As an aging athlete, you can sometimes overestimate your capacities. You need to remember that you’re not young and strong anymore and that your body is slowing down. However, that doesn’t mean that you can’t pursue sports and physical activities. Here are 6 tips that can help you remain in top form no matter the age.
1. Don’t give up on the physical activity
One of the most common mistakes people over 65 make, is giving up on physical activity. Whether you were a fitness enthusiast or a professional athlete, just because you’ve reached a certain age doesn’t mean that you should give up on your passion.
Quite on the contrary, remaining physically active even after you’ve reached a certain milestone can help you live longer and retain better health. If you’re not keen on running anymore, fast walking or even walking and hiking can help you stay in shape and improve your health.
2. Resistance training
A lot of doctors and professional trainers suggest regularly doing resistance training to maintain strength and stamina. This doesn’t exclude aging athletes. Resistance training should be a crucial part of your routine if you want to remain peak performance through ages.
Besides remaining in your top form, resistance training has many other benefits. For instance, it can help you strengthen your bones and joints and prevent some of the most common injuries from happening. Keep in mind that resistance training should be customized according to each individual. Therefore, try not to compare your training to someone else’s.
3. Cut back on the volume
On the opposite end of giving up physical activity, some individuals overdo their exercises neglecting their age. Even though you might feel like you’re stronger than ever, you still need to take care of your aging body. That’s why cutting back on the volume is essential with age.
Reducing the number of series and repetitions is essential with age. Your body might not be able to take as many series as it used to before. So, if you notice that you’re starting to feel tired or exhausted sooner, listen to your body!
4. Nutrition
Believe it or not, a lot of people neglect proper nutrition as they age. Instead of aiming for healthier food, aging athletes eat whatever is easiest to prepare, which is a big mistake. Did you know that proper nutrition can help you live longer and maintain your stamina? With enough proteins, vitamins and minerals, your body gains the strength to go on.
However, many aging athletes have nutrition obstacles they need to overcome. To minimize the negative effects of getting old, you need to eat enough vitamin C, intake enough omega-3 oils and antioxidants. This means that your diet should include a lot of fresh fruits and veggies and fish to maintain your top form.
5. Get advice from experts
Sometimes aging athletes give up on sports due to untreated feet or leg injury from the past which makes it hard for them to move or do much. In cases like these, treatment and recovery are essential, especially because your body is more fragile now. So, what can you do if you’ve injured some of the most important body parts- your feet and legs?
Instead of sitting at home and waiting for a miracle to happen, don’t give up on your physical activity. Seek professional advice from reliable sports medicine experts that can provide you with the necessary treatment and recovery for your injuries. Only highly-trained and experienced professionals will know how to help you get back on your feet and continue your physical activity for a long time.
6. Don’t avoid stretching
Stretching is the single most important thing to do before and after each physical activity. Even though you have gotten away without stretching when you were younger, as an aging athlete this step is vital for your wellbeing. Therefore, introduce stretching to your daily routine,
If you find regular stretching boring and dull, consider doing yoga for the elderly that can help you retain your flexibility, warm up your muscles and reduce the risk of getting a spasm after exercising. Only stretching and similar relaxing exercises can help you last longer in the field of sports.
Conclusion
As you can see, age shouldn’t stop you from performing your favorite physical activities. You only need to listen to your body’s cues and reduce the activities when necessary. Just follow these tips and you’ll be able to stay on track for a long time.
