There is a definite relationship between age and injury. Just like any other barrier, aging can limit athletic capabilities. Age affects an athlete’s recovery rate, how completely the athlete recovers, as well as an athlete’s mental and psychological ability to handle the stress associated with recovery.
Aging slowly changes the body’s various structures and organs. With age, muscle mass decreases, the process of rebuilding and repairing muscle protein slows, and there is a definite decrease in physical strength. The ability of the body’s red blood cell system to transport oxygen throughout the body slows, and the heart becomes less powerful. The skin becomes more prone to lacerations and cuts, as skin thickness deceases by up to 30% by age 50. Also by age 50, bone density decreases by about 10%, which means that osteoporosis poses more of a risk to the body, and the skeleton becomes more susceptible to fractures. The speed with which the body grows new cells to fix any of its injuries determines one’s injury recovery rate. Young athletes recover from injury more rapidly than older athletes. For instance, certain studies show that those aged 45 and over will take up to 18% longer to heal from an injury, than similarly injured 30 year olds.
Although younger athletes heal more quickly, injuries still pose risks to youth in different ways. Long term damage can be done to the bones of those who have not yet completely matured physically. Damage to bone growth plates -located at the end of major bones in the body- that have yet to fuse to the ever growing bones can have negative impacts on the bone structure of children over time. In comparison to fully developed adults, children may be more susceptible to injury due to their larger surface area to mass ratio or their proportionately larger heads. Moreover, children may not yet posses the coordination or motor skills that certain activities require.
A study was conducted comparing the rate of recovery of 20-year old versus 16-year old athletes who have had concussions. It was found that the 20-year athletes recovered much more quickly than the 16 year olds. A 16-year olds body is not yet finished developing, and its body parts may develop at different rates, creating an imbalance that renders it more susceptible to injury. Adolescents often have imbalances in flexibility and strength. Contrarily, a 20-year old is not only finished developing, but is more likely to have sustained a concussion before and is therefore more capable of handling the injury both physically and psychologically.
Acute and exertional injuries are common among the elderly population. It has been found that muscle is one of the most commonly acutely injured tissues in the elderly. Additionally, the elderly tend to injure their lower extremities. Aging causes physical activity to become increasingly risky, as the body becomes less and less able to carry out the activity. The elderly have slower reaction times, poorer coordination, and less physical balance, so naturally activities demanding these abilities are much more difficult for the elderly.
For advice in starting an exercise program at any age, please contact the health professionals at Kew Gardens Health Group.
Article written by Megan Meisner
