50+ Years Old!!

[sensei8]

Please take a look at this article...

http://healthformenover55.com/exercise-for-men-over-50/

How, if anyway, does it truly apply to those MAist that are 50 years old and then some??

I'm now 56, and I know that I'm no longer that whippersnapper that's in their 20's or 30's. I try to keep up with them, but I know I can't, so often I don't even try.

Even on the floor, I know I have to allow my MA knowledge overtake those much younger than me, otherwise, they remind me that I'm an old man.

Now, my doctor says...just walk 30 minutes a day, and do that in moderations and no more than 30 minutes UNTIL I SAY IT'S OK TO DO SO. Yes, Dad!! He even wants me to lessen my time on the floor because..."You're getting older. You're not that youngster anymore. Are you?"

Sheech!!

Your thoughts for the old man, please!!

EDITS: Why can't I spell?!

Edited December 12, 2013 by sensei8

[Nidan Melbourne]

Do you have any medical conditions? The only reason why I can think of is that he doesn't want the risk of any major health problems.

The fact that he is saying you can only do 30 mins is odd. mainly because the more exercise you do the better your overall health is. just as long as your recovery is also adequate.

Speak to another doctor. but for best results speak to an exercise physiologist because they know what levels of exercise you should be doing and also they can help prescribe exercise for you so you can either do it in a gym or at home (or even in the dojo, park etc).

Honestly I don't think your doctor should be saying doing limited exercise for you. unless he thinks that there is an issue for you and if he has actually had done tests on you.

[Zaine]

I have a heart disease so exercise is not an option for me, I have to do it. I have also been told the 30 minutes spiel and sought a second opinion and what the other doctor said was that 30 minutes is the minimum amount of exercise recommended a day. They recommend doing no more because they tend not to ask you whether or not you exercise on a regular basis so they don't know what your body can handle. Starting 30 minutes and gradually moving upwards is a great idea for someone who literally does nothing and has done nothing for an extended amount of time. I would ask again and mention that you exercise already and ask WHY it has to be 30 minutes a day. Chances are that the doctor just wants to make sure that your body can handle it first.

I'm now 56

Please. We all know that your in your mid-30s and that you wrestle bulls in your spare time.

Edited December 10, 2013 by Zaine

[AdamKralic]

corny as it sounds...age is a number.

Not even an important number. Want to know what IS an important number? How old you will be when you die. Without knowing that date an optimist is to assume that they are in the prime of their life at all times. Or see it this way: if you are 56 and destined to hit 100...and another is 33 and destined to hit 35. Who is younger?

Now having said that...I am 42. My son is 12. That little bugger is already faster than I ever was at any point in life.

He eggs me on constantly now to point spar him. He no longer fears my reach advantage at all. (and I mean at all) *sigh* Just a few years ago I could cut him off with ease...

Now I reply: Ok smartie pants...put on some boxing gloves and see what's up. ;P (as a boxer I wasn't quick either...but my head is 99% bone apprently and everyone that I punched had considerably less bone mass in their noggin) Hey that style of boxing gave Foreman a looooooooooong career. ;P

[Nidan Melbourne]

corny as it sounds...age is a number.

Not even an important number. Want to know what IS an important number? How old you will be when you die. Without knowing that date an optimist is to assume that they are in the prime of their life at all times. Or see it this way: if you are 56 and destined to hit 100...and another is 33 and destined to hit 35. Who is younger?

Even though age is a number, it is a risk factor in both men and women over the age of 45 (women) and 50 (men). so it is an IMPORTANT number in a persons overall health. and in this case it is a risk factor. But will depend on the rest of his health. so currently he is a low risk patient and he can do exercise without medical supervision or supervised by those who are trained to deal with such patients.

If any medical professional excludes age when risk stratifying any patient, they are at risk of injury.

But Sensei8's doctor who has recommnended only 30 minutes a day. It is insufficient exercise to maintain health. that time is done just walking around the house, office or walking anywhere you want to get done. he should be doing a lot more than that and to have a healthy older life.

any exercise done that is above the bare minimum that is recommended by ESSA (Exercise Sport Science Australia), ACSM (American College Sports Medicine) and other national associations that set standards on what people should be doing for exercise. and unfortunately doctors don't always look at such recommendations.

[hammer]

Not sure about others but if I didn't have the means to push myself towards a goal I'd have a hard time working out.

Do have to say that recovery has been taking longer as I've aged. Seems like the slide has accelerated a bit after 45. Regarding speed, I didn't start MA until my mid 30s so I've never been all that quick. Just need to fight smarter.

Also have been glad that my doctor doesn't give me a hard time when I show up with overuse injuries or advise me to unnecessarily limit workouts. At least he knows I'm trying to be active.

[lowereastside]

Hi, Sensei8 - in a few months I'll be 60. Let me say this - I have a very good friend who is 86 years old ( Young ) - this friend started in MA in the mid 1950's. About 5 years ago my 86 YO friend started studying Chinese Wrestling under another good friend. And he's doing the full boat - throwing, falling , rolling , ground work etc......The thing is that about 25 years ago my friend had stopped training for a few years - opened up a business and got a Heart Attack. When he left the hospital he could hardly walk 2 City Blocks without stopping to catch his breath. He started on a simple exercise program - 1st walking about 10 min a day then he started with basic exercise and so on and so on. This man (my friend ) is an inspiration to me and my other MA's friends. We look at him in amazement and just shake our heads. Look getting older I try to do what I can - we gotta find a way to take our MA's into our old age. And looking at my 86 yo friend - there is still hope for me LOL. Again just my 3 cents worth.

[Evil Dave]

As we age, and we all age differently, we need to modify our goals and training program(s) to accommodate what is happening to our bodies. We do become more fragile, slower, takes longer to heal, old injuries come back to haunt us and so on. As a MA instructor and Personal Trainer I have seen what 'active living' does for a person, my advise is never stop moving and move and do as much as you can for as long as you can!!! Your doctors recommendation is the bare minimum prescribed exercise, and if he/she gave you any more they maybe open to lawsuit if anything happens. As already mentioned find an exercise physiologist or a doctor who just so happens to be a MA or other athlete ~ I'm lucky, if I don't like what my doctor tells me I get to 'spar' with him later that week!

We all can find inspirational individuals at 'later' stages in life and mine is a Power Lifter at one of the gyms I work at. He's 75 this year and has finally dropped his competition Deadlift under 420lbs. The reason is that he does have some eye problems and is not supposed to raise his blood pressure... This man is a great inspiration to us at the gym as he's been lifting longer then most of us have been alive and is always there with a smile and willing to help out the younger people in the gym.

[Nidan Melbourne]

As we age, and we all age differently, we need to modify our goals and training program(s) to accommodate what is happening to our bodies. We do become more fragile, slower, takes longer to heal, old injuries come back to haunt us and so on. As a MA instructor and Personal Trainer I have seen what 'active living' does for a person, my advise is never stop moving and move and do as much as you can for as long as you can!!! Your doctors recommendation is the bare minimum prescribed exercise, and if he/she gave you any more they maybe open to lawsuit if anything happens. As already mentioned find an exercise physiologist or a doctor who just so happens to be a MA or other athlete ~ I'm lucky, if I don't like what my doctor tells me I get to 'spar' with him later that week!

We all can find inspirational individuals at 'later' stages in life and mine is a Power Lifter at one of the gyms I work at. He's 75 this year and has finally dropped his competition Deadlift under 420lbs. The reason is that he does have some eye problems and is not supposed to raise his blood pressure... This man is a great inspiration to us at the gym as he's been lifting longer then most of us have been alive and is always there with a smile and willing to help out the younger people in the gym.

An Exercise Physiologist is pretty much the best person to speak to in terms of exercise. Doctors who do Martial Arts is good yes, but they don't really understand the ins and outs of exercise prescription for different people. Physiotherapists have a pretty good idea of what happens and how to prescribe exercise to patients (on an individual basis).

But since you said that your a PT, you do realize that even though you prescribe exercise to individuals that there is a big group of people that you can't technically work with? Like you can work with people who are low risk of any complications and some people who are at moderate risk. But shouldn't be working with high risk patients.

when i say high risk i mean if they have cardiovascular, metabolic, respiratory diseases. Thats why as an EP we do a risk stratification for patients first time they see us. the main reason why we have metabolic under the banner of high risk is because of the complications that could occur during exercise.

But yes if anything did happen, he can indeed sue purely because the doctor didn't take appropriate actions in ensuring the safety of their patients. That is why they should refer any patient to an EP if they want their patient to exercise and safely. But even then if the doctor didn't inform the EP of anything wrong with the patient (and there was) they can still file the lawsuit

[bushido_man96]

Its a pretty cut-and-dried article, with nothing really earth-shattering in it.

My advice would be to listen to your body when you exercise. If its screaming at you to take a breather, then do it. If you are just a bit tired, but feel you can push through, then do it. Being a little sore is no big deal. Just make sure you aren't injuring yourself.

I do recommend a book by Sang H. Kim, Martial Arts After 40. Its a good read that I will have to go through again her in a few years.