Common Injury Risks When Playing Sports After 40

By: Mount Elizabeth Hospitals

When you are past the age of 40, your body tends to react differently to exercise as your overall recovery rate declines by 15% compared to one in their 30s.

Here are some tips on avoiding injury when playing sports after 40:

With age come the loss of muscle mass and strength, as well as the declining performance of one’s heart and lungs which in turn affects stamina and endurance. Studies have shown that for a 45-year-old, the overall recovery rate is about 15 per cent slower than a 30-year-old who suffers from similar injuries; and this recovery rate declines further with age. While good nutrition and a balanced diet is beneficial, it’s important that you moderate your physical activity, and build up to your desired optimum workout intensity instead of overexerting yourself. In addition, your body repairs at a slower rate than before as you age, and you may be more susceptible to sports-related injuries and problems.

“As we grow older, our bodies undergo certain physical changes which may affect our athletic ability,” says Dr Toh Choon Lai, an orthopaedic surgeon at Mount Elizabeth Hospitals, Singapore.

Are you in your 40s and would like to start playing more sports in order to maximise the health benefits exercise brings? With increased age comes a greater risk of injuries, especially for those without a regular workout regime. We dive into four common sports and their impact on our bodies after 40.

Running

Common injuries are often caused by excessive running. Such injuries can include back pain, calf strain, shin splints, knee injuries, and hip bursitis. Hip bursitis is where the bursa, a small tissue at your hip, is inflamed, causing pain and tenderness in the area. The pain can become worse with prolonged walking or stairs climbing. In serious cases, surgical removal of the bursa is required. “Runners should use shoes with good cushioning and should change shoes every 500-700 km,” recommends Dr Toh, who adds that elderly runners are also more susceptible to fall-related injuries.

Swimming

Swimming is often considered a gentler sport, but it is not injury-free. Shoulder injuries such as rotator cuff tendonitis or rotator cuff tear can occur, especially when there is insufficient warm up before a swim, or when there is poor swimming posture. The rotator cuff is network of muscles and tendons that allow the arm to rotate. Rotator cuff tendonitis is where the rotator cuff tendon is inflamed, causing pain in the shoulder which worsens when the arm is raised overhead. Rotator cuff injury can be treated through physiotherapy and medication, but in serious cases, a keyhole (which means smaller cuts) procedure can be performed to reattach the torn tendon to the bone.

Football

Some of the common soccer injuries include ankle sprains, knee ligament injuries, and hamstring strains. Among older players, degeneration of knee and ankle may also be a problem, which can result in osteoarthritis in the knee and the ankle. Serious knee arthritis might require a surgical procedure to replace the diseased knee joint with an artificial joint. One of the problems for contact sports athletes is getting themselves too accustomed to injuries and in the process self-prescribing their own remedies. However, it is important to consult a specialist for a thorough diagnosis to ensure that there are no long term injuries sustained from repeated strain during high-impact sports.

Golf

Golf is becoming increasingly popular. Common overuse injuries in golfers include shoulder problems, neck pain, lower back pain, tennis elbow and golfer’s elbow. Wrist pain is also common in older golfers, because of the rapid twisting of the wrist during the golf swing.

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