Between 2001 and 2008, the greatest increase in rotator
cuff and knee surgeries was among patients over 61, according to the
most recent national data compiled by the federal Agency for Healthcare
Research and Quality. The steepest increase, jumping from 21 to 28
percent, was among
patients between 61 to 70, who chose arthroplasty to repair or replace
ailing knees. These numbers come from an emboldening piece in the Boston Globe, which reports that while, once upon a time, surgeons discouraged older athletes from joint repair, they have since caved to evidence that older patients have little trouble coming back to their games.
Health, fitness and lifestyle tips for people over 50 who still like to play hard
Sunday, June 1, 2025
Their bodies are their jobs as well as mine was. When I carried 150lbs of meat off & on 8 hrs a day for 11 years, not to mention i’m still doing labor. But I just have to say; Rememer Athletes, you could of had
my job’s and been with not so much money with labor (and I don’t have a record) or earn your thousands and or Millions and smile a little smile for me. Some work for little, Some work for alot. I love life
Emitchell, many athletes not only take part in a sport that demands hours of training, constant dieting and other demands but they also work full time jobs such as moving furniture, heavy construction, bricklaying, landscaping, etc. as not all athletes received payment for their labors other than the joy of knowing they had done their best.
Even when I was competing on a professional level in one sport, I was competing as an amatuer in others while still holding down one or more full time jobs.
You could have taken part in many sport but you chose not to. Please do not begrudge those who put out the extra effort to shine while still supporting themselves and their family.
namaste
emitchell1414,
no athlete started in his or her chosen sport(s) as a professional in the same.
While working towards mastering their sport(s) and attain professional status, they worked at least one full time job filling such occupations as laborer, construction, landscaping, furniture mover, meat packer, etc., etc.
This means they worked eight or more hours a day and then trained and practiced each day after work as well dieted each day and all of the other requirements needed and necessary to meet the goals they had set for themselves.
Another aspect to considered is that although thousand choose to follow such a self chosen path, only a small per centage attain to the professional ranks yet all who did try are better person for having tried.
I began working at the age of 13 and worked full time until 3 years ago when my physical diasablities from my sports finally got to a point of being overwhelming. I have had more knee surgeries than I care to remember and am in the process of having both knees replaced. I have had surgery on both shoulders. All of my joints pop, crack and snap with every movement and although I was a professional in two sports, and a nationally ranked ametuer in several others, I was never well paid nor do I have a pension to fall back on.
I took part in the sports of my choosing out of a passion for the same, a passion that drovev me on to excell even when others told me I would not make it, even when I had to make sacrifices most persons do not realize were necessary and would not be willing to make.
I continue to pursue those sports I am able to, as well as to take care of my family as I live a rich, full life knowing that each day may actually be my last due to a non-sports related illness.
You don’t sound like you “love life”. You sound jealous and as if you are dining on sour grapes.
I am sorry that you weren’t willing to do what it takes to fulfill a dream that has now passed you by however, don’t let your jealousy of those who were so willing make you bitter.
Few professional athletes make millions of dollars, some even work a second or third job to make ends meet however, we are the one who did what most others did not do because, like yourself, they would not do.
Respect our courage and our committment because we deserve it.
namaste
There are times you cannot avoid injury or the knife. But often that can be avoided, or the severity lessened, by consistently building the muscles around knee or shoulder joints, especially those you consider to be vulnerable.
As we age, due to the phenomenon medical folks named sarcopenia (which starts shortly after age 30), we tend to lose muscle mass. Muscle is not only important metabolically, but acts as the major shock absorber for our organs and skeleton.
Fortunatley, we can preserve, even build, muscle mass with a diet that includes adequate protein and systematic resistance training with the muscles, at whatever level we can tolerate and by whatever means works and is available, i.e., our own body weight in push-ups and leg lunges, or weight machines, two to three times a week. Take your pick. Almost any resistance routine will work.
I admire the tenacity and joy of the people in this story.