By Jay S. Bender, MD
Here in North Texas we are blessed with good weather and abundant recreational opportunities that help us keep active throughout the year. In addition, there is an increasing trend to remain more active later and later in life. While there are many benefits to maintaining an active lifestyle in our sixties and beyond, there are also potential problems.
In 1999, Dr Nicholas DiNubile, an orthopedic surgeon in Pennsylvania, was the first to use the term, “Boomeritis.” Boomeritis describes the negative health consequences of stressing our aging bones, joints, and tendons by pushing ourselves with activities such as jogging, playing golf, and working out. It refers to the recurrence of old injuries as well as new strains and sprains, tendonitis, and bursitis. In particular, we are at risk of injury during the occasional bout of intense activity between other periods without activity.
If you are over 50 and have experienced stiffness, aching muscles, and joint pain after a round of golf or a particularly intense tennis match then you know first-hand what Boomeritis is all about. It is crucial to learn how to minimize the risk of injury so that we can remain active and avoid the health problems that go with a sedentary lifestyle such as heart disease, obesity, diabetes and the like.
Normal aging is associated with muscle loss, osteoporosis, and mechanical degeneration of tendons and ligaments. Routine exercise helps to reverse these changes by increasing muscle mass and bone density. Cardiovascular endurance, pulmonary capacity, weight control, and the state of mind all improve as well. Ironically, the antidote to Boomeritis is more activity, albeit the right kind. The old saying about an ounce of prevention being better than a pound of cure certainly rings true when talking about staying active.
Physical therapists Marilyn Moffat and Carole Lewis describe domains of fitness that need to be maintained as we age. By maximizing strength, posture, balance, and flexibility with the right types of exercise, we can reduce the risk of injuries from our sports and cardiovascular activities. Often working with a physical therapist or trainer will help to improve core strength and reduce risk of injury. Learning to properly warm up, cross training, and understanding the need for recovery in an exercise program are also important. A customized exercise program enables people to do better in all aspects of daily life. Falls that can result in a hip fracture can be reduced by as much as 40% after a core strengthening and balance program. This is important since hip fractures are responsible for more deaths each year than breast and endometrial cancer combined.
Non-exercise factors are also part of minimizing Boomeritis. Maintaining a healthy diet that supports an appropriate weight will keep stress off of tendons and joints. Calcium and Vitamin D supplementation are also crucial to maintaining good bone strength.
If tendonitis or bursitis does develop despite the right exercise program, there are other options. Oral non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications can help control symptoms as well as improve functioning. Electrical stimulation and ultrasound treatments can also promote healing. Even the occasional use of steroid injections can help in the recovery process. In the most extreme cases involving unrelenting pain or tendon rupture surgical repair may be necessary.
One of the most exciting new developments in the treatment of tendonitis is the use of Platelet rich plasma (PRP) injections to improve healing and shorten recovery time. The process of using PRP involves taking some of the patient’s own blood and spinning it in a centrifuge to spate out the cells that release growth factors. The healing cells and growth factor are then injected into the area of inflammation. There has been good evidence that utilizing the body’s own repair mechanisms is a safe and powerful way of treating inflammatory and overuse problems. The procedure is done in the office, takes about 20 minutes, and has very few side effects.
In the end, just remember to be proactive about being active. Don’t forget to listen to your body and seek help from your health care team of primary doctors, physical therapists and trainers, and orthopedic surgeons if problems arise.
If you would like to schedule an appointment with Jay S Bender, MD, author of this article, at any of his locations—Gainesville, Denton or Keller—call 940-323-3460.