The Aging SUPer
By Tim Wright at Gower Acupuncture (Swansea)
SUPing is a great way to stay fit
SUPing is a great way to stay fit, catch more waves and stay surfing when you pass your prime surfing years.
As we age our joints start to suffer the repetitive loads placed on them over a lifetime of activity. There’s no two ways about this – as we progress beyond about 35 our skeletal system and joints start to degrade. This may seem hard to comprehend when you see how the age of high performance athletes is rising.There are a number of athletes who have competed at elite levels well into their late 30’s and 40’s. Perhaps the most impressive is Steve Redgrave’s gold medal in rowing aged 38. What you don’t see when you see these great athletes is the chronic injuries many of them carry.
There are things we can do to look after our ageing body, but very little we can do to reverse the damage. Think of it like wrinkles. As we age they develop. Short of going under the knife they’re an integral part of ageing. So I’d like to briefly explore some ways of slowing down the ageing process.
John Zapotocky was 95
1. Stop Exercising:
As far as I’m concerned this isn’t an option for three reasons:
1) Exercises makes you feel better. Exercise releases feel good endorphins to keep you feeling great and keeps low mood at bay. In addition moderate exercise helps to boost your immune system.
2) The impact on bone from exercise increases bone density and strength. Bone is a dynamic organism the more impact it receives the denser it becomes. This means you’re less likely to break bones and suffer osteoporosis than someone who spends all day sat glued to the TV.
3) Muscle wastage. The old adage use it or lose it couldn’t be more fitting in terms of muscles By continually using muscles it doesn’t waste away as it does in the sedentary population as they approach the 7th and 8th decade of life.
2. Rest
If you’ve injured yourself, rest. Injuries are more easily sustained and linger longer in the aging athlete. Although a few weeks off the water may seem a lifetime (especially if the surfs pumping), it will be time you’ll thank yourself for decades later when that little injury hasn’t turned into a chronic niggle or more serious problem. Think about it – who reading this article (of a certain age) now cannot attribute a niggle or persistent injury from an injury years ago that wasn’t properly rested and treated? I know I can.
rest day for SUP
3. Recover
Take time out so you’re body can recover from the last session. If the surfs pumping and you’ve got to hammer your body a few days in a row do yourself a favour:
1) Eat well. This means nutritious food. Eliminate processed food from your diet. Don’t eat empty calories – only eat food that adds something useful to your body.
2) Sleep: Make sure you get plenty of sleep. During the “deep state” of sleep the body repairs damage to tissue and the immune system.
4. Therapy:
I’m not talking seeing a shrink here. No, this therapy involves manual manipulation and acupuncture. Why? Tight muscles and tendons put joints under pressure. This restriction of joint can hinder movement, reduce circulation of blood around the joint and affect joint alignment. All of this is bad news for your body. Manual manipulation (massage, osteopathy) can aid in re-alignment and loosen tight, constricted muscles. Acupuncture can often free up stubborn contractions in muscles – the needles breaking down the tightened area, improving local blood circulation. In addition the micro trauma caused by each needle promotes the bodies own natural anti-inflammatory & healing response. Invest in your body and it’ll repay you into older age. Wouldn’t we all like to be as active as Faujar Singh. Don’t know who he is? He completed his last marathon in Toronto aged 100…
Gower Acupuncture
Want to learn more about acupuncture contact Tim on
Tel: 07764 254881
Website: www.goweracupuncture.co.uk
Tim Wright is a Licensed Acupuncturist at Gower Acupuncture and practices in
The Lazy Frog , 1 Uplands Terrace, Uplands, Swansea, SA2 0GU
Thanks Tim , a great nugget of knowledge , ill be booking in soon !
Matt
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