Boomer Rehab

Fitness isn't reserved for the young… baby boomers are one of the most active generations ever. But aging increases the risk of injury and slows the rate of healing.

by Medstar

Published: Wed, March 05, 2008 - 10:22 am CST Last Updated: Wed, March 05, 2008 - 2:41 pm CST

Taking life in the slow lane isn't for Ron Greene.
"I'm a skier, a surfer, and just recently got back into racing cars."
And through it all, this lifetime athlete's knees have taken a beating.
"I've incrementally torn both ACL's all the way through, and now I have arthritis in both knees."
Ron's doctor, Robert Gotlin, says baby boomer athletes need to stay active, but also realize their bodies just aren't the same.
"The joints of the hip, the knee, the ankle, the shoulder… these joints just do wear out. It's like a tire, eventually the treads wear out."
Instead of retiring to a rocking chair, boomer athletes can bounce back through rehab… but it takes patience.
"The recovery phase as we age increases. When we're younger, bounding back from injury can be three to four weeks. as we get to be middle-aged, it can be four to five weeks. as we get older, it can be six to seven weeks."
Dr. Gotlin says cardio exercise is key to boomer rehab.
"The workouts are geared toward swimming, walking, calisthenics, basic aerobic treadmill exercises. Those are the most important for the boomer."
For Ron, maintaining his active lifestyle is worth the effort.
"I sort of look at myself as a, as a car that needs to be maintained. I come into the mechanic and he does what's necessary for a tune-up, and i go right back out and do it again."
Regular tune-ups that keep his engine humming.
Dr. Gotlin says boomers, like all athletes, need to listen to their pain. If you experience a new and sharp pain that makes an area weaker, don't ignore it. as a rule of thumb, if you have a pain that lasts longer than a week, call your physician.

FAST FACTS:
There are more than 78.2 million baby boomers in the U.S.
Nearly one-third of baby boomers in the U.S. participate in some type of sports activity.
Many boomers try to do the same kinds of activities/at the same type of intensity as they did when they were younger, increasing the risk for injury.
Boomers need more time to heal and recover from injuries than younger patients.

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