long term effects of training

FStep · 05-06-2006, 06:17 PM

i've been doing martial arts since i was a kid (i've trained in a lot of things at one point or another karate, wrestling, bjj, judo, boxing/tai) and have no plans of stopping but all the injuries i've got over the years got me thinking how much will they effect me when i'm in my 40s, 50s, etc ... i'm only 26 right now in good shape and i have high pain tolerance so i can deal with these fine but as you get older the injuries you get when you are younger start to catch up with you or so i've been told

on a positive side i realize that someone who trains eats much healthier then someone who doesn't, exercises regularly, etc so in a way that might even things out but still ... i haven't had anything extremely serious yet and hope i don't "knock on wood" but things like shoulder teares, hyperextended elbow, broken fingers, etc

so i'd like to hear some response from older people who have been training for a while or anyone who knows what they're talking about as to how bad does it get later on

Shawn Hawk · 05-06-2006, 06:55 PM

The long term effect of living is dying, and that hasn't seemed to stop you yet.

Girljock · 05-06-2006, 08:59 PM

Not sure I like referring to myself as....older. I've been running and biking faithfully for about twenty years. Done triathlons, a couple century bike races....yada yada yada. I can't say I've had a lot of injuries from running and such. The usual ankle sprains and muscle pulls a few broken fingers from ball...but I don't have any arthritis (yet) or anything like that. I don't feel any cumulative negative effects of my training at this time. My bladder is dropping...from what I hear that's quite common in women that run...not sure about men.

But hey...that might have happened anyway.

I have had 4 ankle surgeries in the last two years but that is from a work injury...so that doesn't count in my book. Not sure how that's going to effect my style. Just have to wait and see what I can do. I'm about to start MMA training when I get back on my feet so who knows what's going to happen.

I would rather stay active and do what my body will allow me to do. I might get arthritis from it...but who's to say I wouldn't get it anyway. The only big difference I've noticed over the years is.....I can NOT drink and train the following day. I just can't do it anymore...which I'm not sure is a bad thing...so..I don't drink...much. I've also incorporated yoga into my routine and I feel that helps. Good luck.

mahalo · 05-07-2006, 12:48 PM

i hope someone with wisdom and experience will post an answer to the thread question.

but as girljock wrote, i'd rather do more activities than the average person than not do anything at all.

Revok · 05-07-2006, 12:59 PM

Well, what's the alternative? Not training and cowering in fear of getting hurt? I hear that catches up with you a hell of lot quicker than training with all it's inevitable rigors.

Be smart, pay attention to what your body is telling you, and quit the hand-wringing. Everybody gets old, weak, ugly and slow. Nothing for it, sunshine. Now go run.

**Sonny** · 05-07-2006, 01:04 PM

There was an old man at my gym who was in amazing shape, one of the only guys there who could do weighted chins and pistols, an amazing guy and an inspiration. Anyways, he was talking to me about the long list of injuries he has had throughout his training career and how he had to work through them. When I asked him if it was worth it (which to me it obviously was), he said "Of course, risking injury is part of the game but I'd rather have a bad back from exercising than whither away."

As athletes, we take more IMMEDIATE risks with our bodies when we're training/competing but the lazy **** sitting on his ass doing fuck all is taking an even BIGGER risk in the long run.

GoRiders · 05-09-2006, 11:09 AM

I am in my 40s and have been very physically active since high school although not in any combat sports - fan only.

The one comment I will pass on has to do with back injuries. Two buddies of mine have had bad back issues.

They are both in their early 40s and it has severely limited their ability to do any sort of physical activity. For one buddy this has led to weight gain - maybe 20-40 pounds over an ideal weight.

They both have regrets over not taking better care of their backs when they were in their 20s. So if you want to keep hammering until old age, take care of the stuff that can really bite you in the arse: backs, knees, shoulders, ankles.

My one buddy has said that if he knew that shite he would have to go through at age 45 to keep a healthy back, he would have been hammering on the sit ups, flexibility, strength training etc. in his 20s. Be procative in this area and it will pay dividens down the road big time.

My personal piece of advice is to make sure you eliminate reasons to quit any activity. I have a lot of friends who don't do squat any more for the stoopidest reasons: my ski boots are old, my bike needs a new chain, I don't have proper shoes, my gym membership ran out and I am thinking of get some home equimpment, etc. etc. etc. So in place of these activities that we used to do is substituted doing nothing except procrastination.

This does get harder as your friends that you do activities with quit for various reasons, or move away etc. It becomes harder to do this stuff when you have to continually find new playmates. Some things I used to do with all my buddies I now do solo or with new friends that are half my age. But screw it - I want to play at the highest level for as long as possible and if friends drop out so be it.

Hopefully you hook up with a spouse that has similar passions and you can push/pull each other. Sometimes you have to think about why you are in the activity in the first place to rekindle that love you have for the sport.

Spend $100 and make sure you have good running shoes or spend $7 a week on a gym membership and make it your mission to never quit an activity you love unless you sub in something else. Otherwise you are left with a healthy remote control device for your TV and nothing else.

End of rant.

noob2bjj · 05-09-2006, 03:08 PM

great post goriders. the way i figure it when you get old you're going to be f'ed up in one way or another regardless. i'm only 29 and have a bad ankle (bball), bad elbow (broke snowboarding) and a bad that's got a few issues (scoliosis + crew). just keep stretching, working out, listening to your body and you'll be ahead of the curve.