Exercise: Good or Bad for you?

Attention! American Baby-Boomers:





As a generation weaned on Jack LaLanne, (I saw him on TV just recently, he's STILL awesome!), shaped by exercise videos by celebrities, and gym memberships--we're now learning that too much of a good thing can have its consequences!



For us "Middle-aged, fast approaching old" people, also known as the boomer generation, it appears there is a downside to all that activity. As doctors encourage us to exercise three to five times a week, many in our ranks continue to participate in sports, long past our prime.


In the process, we're loading orthopaedists offices and operating rooms, needing hip and knee replacements, ligament and cartilage repairs, and treatment for arthritis, bursitis, tendonitis, and back injuries. In medical circles, there is a name for it: Boomeritis.



Dr. Nicholas A. DiNubile, a Philadelphia orthopaedic surgeon, coined and trademarked the term, boomeritis. "Boomers are the first generation that grew up exercising, and the first that expects, indeed demands, that they be able to exercise into their 70's," says Dr. DiNubile. "But evolution doesn't work that quick. Physically, you can't necessarily do at 50, what you did at 25. We've worn out the warranty on some body parts. That's why so many boomers are breaking down. It ought to be called Generation Ouch."



In 2003, National Ambulatory Medical care conducted a survey. According to their statistics, the number 1 reason for doctor's office visits was due to the common cold. The #2 reason, was sports related injuries, with a very high percentage being people born between 1946-1964. The Consumer Product Safety Commission examined emergency room visits, and discovered that from 1991 until 1998, sports related injuries had risen 33 percent, in the boomer age bracket.



When you reach forty you can’t do anything every day.- - - - Henry “Hank” Aaron



GEEEE! I hate sports, and never exercise, and I have all of those problems, myself--bad back, arthritis, and will be needing a hip replacement one of these days. Do you think it would be even worse if I had done all those things? OR, conversely, would a lot of these people have these problems even if they had never exercised? Gotta Wonder!


BTW, did you used to like to dance? I still like to.....but my body punishes me severely for the next three days! [sigh]


Check out this great video on youtube. I bet you'll remember many of these dance moves!



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dMH0bHeiRNg


Have a great day!