High Vs. Low Impact Sports...Which Is Best?

Online, February 22, 2011 (Newswire.com) - Anyone interested in getting in better shape should read these articles and before undertaking a new exercise program. First we need to determine our individual levels of fitness to begin with, then decide how the particular program will accomplish our goals. Do you start off with low impact exercises or do you jump right into extreme sports activities?

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Susie, the Baby Boomer, is back...
When it comes to staying in shape and having fun, how much can our aging bodies take? Are we as young as some of us feel? I explored 2 sources that attempt to look into just that topic. One article, coming from Snowshoe Magazine, a winter sports rag, discusses the joys and problems with high impact exercises. The other article, from Pilates Machine Blog, discusses the benefits of low impact exercises. You decide which is more suited to you by reading here...

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More Baby Boomers Play Extreme Sports and Take Their Lumps

Winter extreme sports like snowboarding, freestyle skiing and snow-kiting are becoming popular among Baby Boomers bored with the treadmill, but they're also taking their lumps in order to participate. The Winter X Games, kicking off its 15th annual festivities next week in Aspen, Colo., have helped push the popularity - as well as the bruises.

Roughly 28 percent more Boomers report extreme-sports related injuries and discomfort today compared with three years ago, according to the makers of Flexcin joint nutritional products. The company fields more calls today from Boomers across the country who aren't afraid to push their endurance and fitness to the limits by participating in a variety of sports outside the gymnasium.

"We've been in a dialogue with Baby Boomers regarding their health for almost ten years now, and never before have they been so involved with exercising than today," said Tamer Elsafy, CEO and founder of Flexcin. "While we applaud their tenacity and spirit we also advise them to listen to their bodies and realize the importance of maintaining healthy joints and overall mobility."

Today Flexcin receives plenty of inquiries from Baby Boomers who feel more aches and joint discomfort as a result of extreme sports. In analyzing all inquiries from Boomers in this category during 2010, majority of men experienced pain in their hands, wrists, shoulders and elbows; women had the most pain in their feet, wrists, hips and knees.

Baby Boomers are prone to joint degeneration through natural wearing down of the joints, which reduces overall joint mobility and results in discomfort and even joint replacement in severe cases. Active Boomers participating in fitness programs, including extreme sports, receive praise for leading healthy lives. But they should proceed with caution because of the sometimes-unavoidable discomfort from the wearing down of the joints over time. Flexcin helps maintain joint nutrition and mobility because it replaces the lost cartilage between the joints.

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Susie reporting back...

This article and more info can be found by going to SnowshoeMag.com

Now for the Low Impact Exercise Article...

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Baby Boomers Fight Back Using Pilates & Other Low Impact Exercises
January is typically a time when new faces start showing up at gyms and health clubs across America. Most of these new faces belong to the baby boomer generation, wanting to make good on their recent New Year's resolution by starting the New Year off by taking control of their health and well being. While some join with aspirations of recapturing a once active life by participating in their once favorite sport or activity. For others, it's simply the cognizance of knowing they need to be more active, while being mindful to be a bit gentler on their aging bodies. Whatever the reason, the baby boomer generation is taking note, and as with past trends as you would expect, are full steam ahead.

Water Resistance Training for Increased Balance and Coordination

For a select few of boomers who were never active, many are overwhelmed by injuries and circumstances that require special attention and exercise modifications. One of the best methods to address such concerns is by exercising in a pool. By exercising in the water, this helps increase balance, overall coordination, flexibility and posture. Water exercise also reduces pressure from the bones and joints, allowing a baby boomer who's been injured to perform to their full potential. These types of exercise are ideal for those who are recovering from injuries such as accidental falls and surgery.

Strength Training for Increased Bone Density

Incorporating some aspect of strength training is an essential component for proper fitness, especially in women. When considering a recent study that reported forty percent of adults over the age of 65 falls at least once a year, weight training should be a top priority to a baby boomers exercise routine. Many boomers who do not routinely use strength training to strengthen their bone density experience serious injury from falls, and unfortunately some even die as a result. Combining a weight lifting regimen, along with a core strengthening exercise such as Pilates or Yoga, will assist with a boomer's balance which should result in the prevention of an accidental fall.

The rest of this article is posted here: PilatesMachineBlog.com

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So which is best? Very strenuous, high impact sports or low impact, core building sports? Hmmm...I think each person should evaluate their own limitations and go forth, albeit carefully if going the high impact route! Each of us Boomers has different health concerns, body types, and goals. The best advice I can give, as I sit here with scabs on my upper lip and nose and loose teeth, is that a person "has got to know his limitations" (to take a line from Harry Callahan, a.k.a. Clint Eastwood in Dirty Harry). I was chasing kids 4 nights ago in the street and fell flat onto my face on the asphalt--OUCH!!!

Check out my Facebook Page and leave your comments. Please let me know what your level of fitness is and how you exercise. Also, please Share this with all your friends.

I'll be back soon,

Susie
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The articles above give us differing opportunities to keep in shape, depending on our abilities. You can read more about Baby Boomer issues, such as fitness, exercise, food and wine, retirement and lots of other topics by going to my blog at Susie's Baby Boomer Lifestyle. Alternatively, you can go to my Facebook Page to get all of my posts sent to you daily. As an example of a recent post, you can read about the fitness guru, Jack LaLanne, by clicking here.