Getting older / tendinitis / golf - coping?

[TMAzng01f3R]

Hi nutters,

I saw a post about getting older and kind of reminisced. Despite recently turning 40, I can still recall the days of my 20s and sometimes feel like I'm still a kid (ie. still having an interest in video games, etc.). But now, having a nearly 2 year old of my own and exposing him to toy golf clubs (he'll take random swings but miss the ball or make occasional contact but it doesn't go straight - lol), I guess I couldn't help but think of the future... As in, I'm hoping that when I'm in my 60s (he'll be in his 20s), maybe I can still be fit enough to walk/golf and not be in a wheelchair and also maybe he'll have an interest in it too by then and it can be something him and I do together...

So in my efforts to "not lose my strength" as I age, I still try to attempt to lift the same amount of weights I used to lift in my youth (in terms of dumbbells/barbells). However, I usually now take longer breaks to recover between sets. Despite getting older, I guess I'm hitting the ball a bit better and further; maybe a function of having the right golf clubs and better technique - the saying, "work smarter - NOT harder" I suppose comes into play. I also bike to work if I can (about 45 each way) maybe twice a week or so. That said, where I'm definitely struggling is sustaining injuries and recovering... So for example, say I'm able to lift X amount of weight. I find if I take a week's break, I might need almost ONE MONTH to get back to that X amount of weight. I think that's the ratio... 1 week OFF the gym means 1 month to get back to the same levels which sucks... :-(.

I also recently injured my wrist thanks to carrying my kid. He was squirming during a diaper change and one of his flailing kicks caused by hand to snap back and put a lot of pressure on my wrist giving me tendinitis. This has since messed up my weight training. I'm slowly recovering now from that incident but find that I'm limited in terms of what I can/not do. :-(.

Anyhoo; how do folks tend to cope in similar (ish) situations? Curious to know what folks do (or not do) and maybe I can incorporate some of them into my daily life... :-).

[Gridiron]

Hi,

As a almost 52 year old these are my thoughts. I debated posting this for fear of being preachy. Then I just kind of said "f it" lol.

1. It is awesome that you are thinking about these things. That in itself is a victory and you are ahead of probably 95% of the crowd. 40 is not old at all. You will still feel about the same way when you get to 50.
2. Not a personal attack here. Lose the ego at the gym. Your stated goal is 20 years out (golfing with your kid at 60). No one at the gym cares how much you are lifting. Just like no one at the range cares how the person 3 stalls down is hitting the ball. Unless you are going into bodybuilding you shouldn't care all that much either. Injuries occur when you go too far too fast. You are in a marathon. It doesn't matter if next month you are pressing 200lbs or 225lbs or 180lbs (it did in your 20's when you were working out with friends. You know it did. ). It does matter that you are not injured and that you are still pressing. Your are working towards functional life strength. To not being "in a wheelchair" (your words). Now, this doesn't mean don't push yourself. You want some sort of rewards for your efforts. But be smart about it. It isn't a sprint (and if you went out and did a 100m sprint right now you would likely come up hurt. As would I). Train for your goals. Not your ego.
3. Nutrition matters more than ever. Again, you don't have to go all crazy here but if you are not putting some stuff in your body to help with recovery then ya, you are going to get hurt. Although you are only 40, you are not 20. But you don't have to go all "salads and tofu".
4. One month to get back to where you were after 1 week off? That doesn't sound right. You shouldn't really lose anything in a week. Is ego in the way here?
5. Aging happens MUCH faster because we stop moving. It doesn't happen as fast as we like to believe it does. We like to use it as an easy cop out. We allow ourselves to get far less active and our bodies react as a result. Your body at 40 (or mine at 50) is perfectly capable of completing all of the tasks you want it to if you are treating it in a reasonable fashion. I can do that 100m sprint if I wanted. Not right now today. I would blow a tire for sure and miss weeks or months. But if I worked up to it over a couple of months I could do it. I just haven't asked my body to do it for a very long time so of course when I try and jump on the accelerator my body says "Excuse me?".
You can find plenty of video's of average men and women in their 60's and 70's being active because they are active. And the couch potatoes sit there on their phones saying "I could never do that". They are right, they can't. Most could, they just don't want to.
I am able to walk the golf course quite easily because I walk the golf course. And of course the guy in the cart says "I can't do that" because they never do that.
6. Do you get enough sleep?
7. Are you still working out the way you did 20 years ago? Science has changed considerably. Again, what is your goal here? Following the weekly routine of a professional bodybuilder may not be right for what you are trying to accomplish.

It isn't a secret. It isn't even that hard. It does take desire and some will power. But we are all capable. What's your goal? What is your time frame? Act accordingly. Your body will respond accordingly.

[Chambokl]

Hi,

As a almost 52 year old these are my thoughts. I debated posting this for fear of being preachy. Then I just kind of said "f it" lol.

1. It is awesome that you are thinking about these things. That in itself is a victory and you are ahead of probably 95% of the crowd. 40 is not old at all. You will still feel about the same way when you get to 50.
2. Not a personal attack here. Lose the ego at the gym. Your stated goal is 20 years out (golfing with your kid at 60). No one at the gym cares how much you are lifting. Just like no one at the range cares how the person 3 stalls down is hitting the ball. Unless you are going into bodybuilding you shouldn't care all that much either. Injuries occur when you go too far too fast. You are in a marathon. It doesn't matter if next month you are pressing 200lbs or 225lbs or 180lbs (it did in your 20's when you were working out with friends. You know it did. ). It does matter that you are not injured and that you are still pressing. Your are working towards functional life strength. To not being "in a wheelchair" (your words). Now, this doesn't mean don't push yourself. You want some sort of rewards for your efforts. But be smart about it. It isn't a sprint (and if you went out and did a 100m sprint right now you would likely come up hurt. As would I). Train for your goals. Not your ego.

Before I start, I never did any weight lifting . . . cardio is what I like. When I was reading the OP's message, that is exactly what I was thinking. Lower the weight and do more rep. It will be easier on your joint/body and will be more beneficial (my opinion).

Love that you are staying active (OP) . . . that is the best thing. Everybody have lots of excuses . . . but you are the one in control of your life . . . I am 65 and still hit the ball as far and better than when I was 60, 55, 50 . . . Good luck!!!

[The Rifleman]

Something to consider, incorporate yoga into your routine, flexibility is key as you age.l am 67 going on 68, with my right knee tuned up three times and the left twice
I walk like a Cheetah because of yoga and it will help your golf game.

[outthere]

You are still very young but good that you are looking ahead. I am 72 and never did heavy weights. I do a lot of reps with 5 pound weights. Walk when you can and ride a bike when you can. Having fun with your son is great physical and mental exercise

[nomullies]

Something to consider, incorporate yoga into your routine, flexibility is key as you age.l am 67 going on 68, with my right knee tuned up three times and the left twice
I walk like a Cheetah because of yoga and it will help your golf game.

I'm 63 and haven't had decent flexibility since I was a teen. I try stretching routines but can't seem to get better. Then I quit. I've tried and didn't enjoy yoga. Maybe because of the downward dog stuff on a once broken wrist. That somewhat hinders push ups. I'd love to find the motivation to be more flexible. Or do the work to get there.

[OBBlues]

I'm 63 and haven't had decent flexibility since I was a teen. I try stretching routines but can't seem to get better. Then I quit. I've tried and didn't enjoy yoga. Maybe because of the downward dog stuff on a once broken wrist. That somewhat hinders push ups. I'd love to find the motivation to be more flexible. Or do the work to get there.

I'm soon to be 69 and have had the flexibility of a brick most of my life. I'd do brief stretches occasionally over the years and also had intermittent low back pain which never caused prolonged absences from golf tho it did make me cancel 2 trips to St. Andrews when it flared up. This past summer the low back pain reappeared and never left. I couldn't play past the end of June. I had x-rays and MRI's which showed nothing aside from routine degenerative disc disease (aging basically). My own diagnosis is my flexibility decreased to the point where my back can't tolerate a golf swing. I stretched a lot this winter and even tried some yoga for a month, hoping that and rest would fix the problem. Two weeks ago in Myrtle Beach I had pain on the first hole in my first game which increased to the point where walking was difficult when I persisted in trying to play until the 15th when I had to quit. This was my second trip to Myrtle Beach in 7 months where I couldn't golf. Nice place but without golf, it's not where I want to be.

Physio starts again Wednesday and I have a couple of osteopath appointments in April and May. These $100 appointments are a tough blow to a senior with no benefits but well worth it if it allows me back on the course the ~4 times per week I normally play. I'll continue to stretch and maybe try acupuncture. I've tried chiro and it hasn't helped.

Bottom line, my advice to anyone is keep or start stretching (especially for your hips) before your ability to golf is restricted far more than you want it to be. It's much easier to gain flexibility when starting to stretch at a younger age.

[Jeffc]

First, start with physio to get the wrist back in shape and lay off the weights. I had a shoulder problem last year (had one about 6 years ago as well) at this time that I ignored and finally got to physio and within a few months I was 100% (it took about 6 weeks to get to 90%). In that time I stopped with the weights. I picked it back up in the fall and have been going pretty steady since. I have had some golfers elbow issues last year but they seem to have self corrected by working our more and lifting more weight but I don't think there is a correlation there. So far it has been going great, though I know with summer, my focus changes a bit so will see if I can keep up with the weights (biking and walking the course will get more attention). I keep the weights in my office and work out at lunch most weekdays.

The drop-off is a lot - I took 9 days off recently for a vacation and came back and did the same weight, it was just a little hard for the first week. Staying healthy is the key and attending to injuries sooner than later helps immensely.

For the record, I have done it for the same reasons, I am almost 56, in the best shape of my life and wish to continue to be for as long as possible. While friends are loafing around or getting hip and knee replacements, I am skiing 10k or biking 30k am doing a 200km bike trip this summer over 2 days.

[dmcdam]

Lots of good suggestions from posters above. If you don't get much out of stretching, I'd suggest looking up Seth Crowell On YouTube. He has some create mobility exercises that I'm now trying to incorporate into my workouts.

[bogey5]

I have some arthritis in a few spots. As per others movement whether stretching or simply walking helps bigly. Going to winter sims helps me keep loose. And when those aren't enuff Advil extra strength.

[NoMo3Putt]

I’ve adopted the fasting and reduce foods that cause inflammation approach, pain levels went from unbearable to days with no pain or very manageable.

[rsfairwaysandgreens]

63 in May here bud and had tennis elbow for as long as I can remember. Rotator cuff is shot too. Young guys, this is what you have to look forward to.

I love walking and always walk the golf course. I bought a power caddy and that takes the stress off my elbow and shoulder from pushing or pulling a cart. I am an avid hiker and always hike with at least one pole and that motion seems to help the elbow and shoulder. A simple brace on my forearm, below the elbow really keeps things in check.

Try some or all of it. Your body will love you for it!

[tarrantian]

59 turning 60 in Sep (First time I've typed this )...

I do 2x20 min stretching routines during a hot shower (We have an extra large shower off our master bedroom). My routine involves stretching the key areas that I can typically strain during the golf season, where I typically play 100+ rounds, walking approx. 30KM per week)...

I've had golfer/tennis elbow in both arms, lower back, hip issues, etc. and I do my utmost to stretch and walk regularly in the off season to try to maintain strength and flexibility - I use 'accupressure' techniques and a heavy 'Theraband' rubber stick to stretch the tendons in my arms (All of these routines have kept injuries at bay).

I still struggle on the diet side, and typically lose 20lbs over the golf season and sadly gain quite a bit of that back between Dec-Mar (I'm working on this, but it's an ongoing battle).

Should do more, but believe this is the bare minimum to keep the swing and be as competitive as possible (So far, since I got bitten by the golf 'bug' 10 years ago this year, I continue to improve and my index continues to lower)...

Good times!

- Ian

[Fore Warned]

Damn, turning 70 next month......70.... Did not see that coming!!!!

What's with these people in their 40's and 50's thinking they are getting old? Give it a rest for a couple of decades. You will get there soon enough.

The hardest part is admitting that you can't do everything you used to do, as well as you did before. I can't ride my bike to Barrie and back anymore. There are parts of some cross country ski trails that I will never see again. I have a tee shirt that reads, "if it is too steep, you're too old".

A frustrating thing is that you don't see and hear as well as you did....and just when you need to be able to read the fine print on over the counter medical products. Who can read any of that anyway. And I can't read your lips over the telephone.

Fortunately can no longer qualify for jury duty.... "I saw the accused chewing gum" sounds too much like, "I saw the accused shooting a gun". Besides, I need to go to the washroom too frequently.

My answer....keep moving. Try and do the same things, you did once but change your expectations about physical abilities. Learn your limits to avoid overuse injuries, to which one becomes more susceptible.

I have yet to get used to people seeing me as old.

The true test of getting old is when you start asking people to guess how old they think you are. I don`t ever want to get there.

[bogey5]

Damn, turning 70 next month......70.... Did not see that coming!!!!

[

The true test of getting old is when you start asking people to guess how old they think you are. I don`t ever want to get there.

Only ask people that are a lot older than you. They'll tell you you're just a kid.