Over the years, there has been an increase in senior athletes. This is due to more people participating in competitions. One reason for the increased participation of older adults in sport is the rising number of seniors that are interested in it. However, physical fitness can also decline as we age. There are however many ways to keep fit and active.
Sport motivation
Recent research shows that competition level, age, as well as gender influence senior athletes' motivation to participate in sport. To measure participation motivation in sport, the study used a validated questionnaire. The results were presented in Table 1, where participants were categorized by sport. The questionnaire also had psychometric properties, according to the results.
The study involved 316 junior and senior athletes competing in three team sports. Three questionnaires were completed by the participants. They were also categorized according to their sport and competition level. Results revealed that handball players are the least motivated to succeed while handball players are the most.
With aging, physical fitness declines.
Ageing can lead to decreased physical fitness. This includes a decrease of muscular mass, strength, endurance, and force. The muscles also experience a decrease in range of motion, becoming more rigid. This can make it difficult to perform strenuous exercise. Despite these changes, many seniors are still capable performing extraordinary feats.
According to the study, aerobic capacity of men and women decreased by 20% each decade. The decline in men was higher than that of women after the age of 40. This has consequences for functional independence as well as quality of life.
Exercise regimens
Exercise can be beneficial to athletes of any age. Senior athletes should incorporate cardiorespiratory exercise, muscle-strengthening exercises, and balance and flexibility exercises into their workout. These exercises can improve balance and strength. While seniors may be less susceptible to injury, they still have to work hard to maintain their competitive edge.
Before starting an exercise program, make sure you have a medical clearance. You may have to adjust the intensity of your exercise program if you have had injuries in the past or are suffering from chronic illnesses. To get the best out of your program, you might need to change your medication schedule or meal plan.
Nutrition
Nutrition for senior athletes should be tailored to their specific needs. For optimal performance and overall health, athletes must follow the principles for good nutrition. It is important to consider preventive and individual health advice when giving diet advice. A registered dietitian is able to provide senior athletes with dietary prescriptions. Senior athletes might be interested in other topics, such as weight control and exercise.
Older athletes need to eat nutrient-dense food and high quality calories in order to maintain a healthy diet. This can increase recovery after intense training sessions and decrease the chance of developing debilitating age-related conditions. To fuel their muscles and keep them healthy, older athletes should consume wholesome carbohydrates. They should also consume foods that are high in antioxidants and fiber.
Balance
Balance in senior athletes is affected by physiologic changes. Sport and orthopedic professionals need to first understand how the body changes. This will help ensure that athletes perform safely and effectively. This will allow them to design and implement an SMT programme that addresses these issues. Balance training is another important part of overall fitness. It improves muscle strength and postural alignment.
Balance relies on proprioception (also known as joint placeal sense). Studies show that elite athletes suffering from ACL injuries have significantly reduced Joint Positional Sensitivity, which could indicate that secondary injuries are possible. Researchers compared the Joint Positional sense of 30 athletes suffering from UCL tears with 30 athletes who had not suffered an ACL injury in one study.