age and injury

mattsurf · Joined: 28 Sep 2016 Posts: 297 Location: Zug, Switzerland

Just found out that I completed IM Vichy with 2 broken ribs, one rib fractured in 2 places. 5 days before Vichy while tapering, I had a hard fall while windsurfing. My ribs were sore, but thought it was just soft tissue injury, however, 2 weeks later felt I had better get an X-ray.

Anyway, I managed 43 years almost injury free, in the past 2 I have broken my wrist, collarbone, finger and now 2 ribs. I have had 2 knee injuries (one tripping over, one too much running) and a foot injury (Metatarsalgia, as a result of trying to change my running style).

I am fitter, thinner, healthier, but just seem prone to injury. Anyone else experiencing this?

fat buddha · Joined: 13 Jul 2004 Posts: 2430 Location: rural Zuzzex

Doonhamer · Posted: Tue Sep 05, 2017 4:30 pm Post subject:

Always done sport & picked up several regional & national vests in my time, but as soon as I hit 40 I've been balancing/managing one injury after another.

It's #@?# getting old, but better than the alternative.
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Jorgan · Posted: Tue Sep 05, 2017 4:43 pm Post subject:

Maybe stop windsurfing? Very Happy

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mattsurf · Joined: 28 Sep 2016 Posts: 297 Location: Zug, Switzerland

Whisk · Joined: 09 Jun 2005 Posts: 8474 Location: London

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twhat · Joined: 28 Oct 2011 Posts: 1187 Location: London

Chrace · Joined: 28 Apr 2010 Posts: 2639 Location: Eating a Yorkie

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Wheezy · Joined: 10 Oct 2007 Posts: 1631 Location: Sub 3 (elect)

During my teens, 20s and early 30s I was pretty bomb proof and just didn't get injured. Now, I seem more injured than not, although this is mainly through running and very bent feet. I don't seem to fall off things like you Mattsurf! I love running, but I'm getting to the point where I'm probably going to pack it in completely and just focus on cycling. I just cba to do the necessary physio to make it worth my while.
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Tony Stark · Joined: 26 Apr 2007 Posts: 2455 Location: Milton Keynes

Who knew that windsurfing was still a thing? Get with the times and switch to kite surfing.

mortirolo · Joined: 21 Jul 2017 Posts: 23

I'm in my late forties, I find going to the gym 2-3 times a week and doing weights, say 3 sets of 12 or 2 sets of 12 and 1 set of 8 with heavier weights has made my muscles feel stronger and help with injury prevention, as we get older our muscles lose there ability to grow as they did in our 20's!

Also train easier in a lower HR Zone, maybe 1 intensity session a week or a small amount intensity during a session, limited. As we get older intensity sessions make us tired we just don't have the energy any more, our bodies take much longer to recover which to leads to injury if we run or bike too hard especially. Build up from low intensity to high, the training process is longer, go full gas, pay the price old boy!

mattsurf · Joined: 28 Sep 2016 Posts: 297 Location: Zug, Switzerland

Didn't do any training this weekend, however, woke up this morning and my foot is really painful, I can hardly walk this afternoon, I suspect a stress fracture, will go to Dr tomorrow. I am getting injured even when not training

Chrace · Joined: 28 Apr 2010 Posts: 2639 Location: Eating a Yorkie

FatPom · Joined: 26 Dec 2005 Posts: 4985 Location: My happy place

It certainly gets harder as you get older. I'm up to my 6th spine operation now over 5yrs. One of those saw me shut down completely and not being able to walk for 9mths unless I was lowered into a swimming pool. The constant cycle of surgery and rehab is mentally and emotionally draining.

However, apart from the first incident when my back snapped and my DNF from IM Wales 205, at least I knew these episodes were coming.

What really screwed me over in terms of 'do i want to carry on' was an accident I had in Sydney where I broke 5 ribs, punctured my lung, smashed my collar bone in 3 pieces and busted my hip. That took ages to come back from.

IMO, being older, especially an old Dad with a young child, does make me evaluate things more and whilst I don't stop all together, I do minimise risk these days. I've pretty much stopped crit racing now, and I'm not really interested in slugging out rides in winter when the weather is icy or just plain dodgy.

I'd give it all up before I gave up surfing though Very Happy

I've only had one bad incident surfing that resulted in a hospital visit (pulled into a backhand overhead closeout, didnt make it out Smile

)

With regards to races, I think it's more about a 'should I be doing this at this point' train of thought. I feel more paranoid about getting sick from door handles and stuff at work as a race gets closer.