I recently came across this article in the Guardian on fitness routines by age, shortly before suffering an overuse injury that had me incapacitated for a couple of weeks.
I’m glad it’s just a super tight soleus muscle and not a torn Achilles tendon or hamstring injury. But I’m still not impressed with myself for needing to use a cane for several days. As much as I like my physiotherapist and appreciate her getting me on the road to recovery, I would have been happy not to see her and need to have KT tape all over my ankle.
I will do my best to take my training a little easier, at least for now. And I have already started taking a Pilates class so I can work on improving my strength.
I know exactly what triggered the injury, and what made it so much worse a couple of days later. But will I stop doing dance or lifeguarding (which includes mandatory fitness training)? Not a chance.
Oh, yes, it changes over time, but not as much as I feared it might. My experience has been that I am more aware, better at stopping to stretch when I feel a minor twinge, better (but still not good) at choosing to skip an occasional day if my body suggests it. I was diagnosed with stage 4 arthritis in one knee 12 years ago; I can still ride my bike on steep hills and run a bit (never was a serious runner). And take tap dance classes several times a week. I don’t do wings on one leg – too risky – but I can jump around with no problem. I am 74; the next oldest in my class is about 50, the youngest 18. Regular stretching, strengthening and PT visits have preserved more than I dared to dream of.
Don’t get too worried.