The guy played college football. I wonder how many of his injuries are more related to football vs. lifting?
Also too, doctors will error on the safe side. The last thing they want to do is to give you the OK to lift and then suffer the consequences of a lawsuit.
If you want the best answer about working out, go to a doctor that works out as well.
beef
I’m 47 years old and just started lifting again after being out of the gym and out of shape for over 20 years. I like working out and I am seeing results. I feel better and look better – I have lost 18 pounds of fat and have put on some muscle, even at my age!
I don’t worry about what anyone writes or thinks about it. I prepare myself and I go to the gym work out and have a blast!
Keep lifting I say!
SteveO
There is already a lot of good posts here, so I haven’t anything to add to the debate. I only offer an observation. Most of the posters here made some pretty big leaps of logic. The article didn’t even say much, but a lot of you heard “Stop lifting when you’re old or you’ll break!”
As what has already been implied, really all the article said was that there are more people in there 30’s and 40’s coming in with sport related injuries than before and that as a group they need to train smarter.
How can anyone disagree with that? There are more people in those age groups doing sports than before so naturally there will be a proportionate increase in injuries. Also, anyone past 40 and still training should be smarter than when they were 20.
What I mean to say is, all of those people who jumped to a conclusion without an open mind are of the same mentality of those with the injuries. I hope that as we T-Nationites age that we learn a thing or two. We need an open mind to do that though, or we will be casualties of this thing we love.
When I was in my 20s, I was in combat. That toll on the body wasn’t that bad back then. Now I must be acutely aware of my body’s messages during training. If I did the same as back then I’d be unable to train now.
I plan on being a monster at 60. To do that means learning every day what my body needs.
Peace,
Rolo.
My goals are:
400-450 pound squat or 3 times bodyweight (5’4" , about 145 lbs now), whichever comes first
450-500 pound deadlift or 3.25 times bodyweight, whichever comes first
300-335 bench press or 2.25 times bodyweight, whichever comes first
200-225 overhead press or 1.5 times bodyweight, whichever comes first
225 power clean or 1.5 times bodyweight, whichever comes first
My best last year about June was 300-310 pound squat (not really sure, never 1RMed), 3x5x187 bench, 3x5x100 overhead press, 175 power clean (decent form but not great) and 350 lb. deadlift (later on I got 355, but that was with straps because my grip had gone to shit)
At my best last year before I got injured I was about a hundred pounds away from these goals. Yeah, that is a lot of improvement and I can’t reach those goals in a few months, but in two or three years I think I potentially can. If I did reach them I’d probably do just enough to maintain that level of strength so I wouldn’t have to worry about getting injured as much.
Having said all that, over the past two years I have gotten an annoying injury that has made me do light weights or layoff lifting for 2 weeks or so every 2-3 months. The two years I lifted before that I don’t think I had more than two injuries at all. In 2008 I pulled up a deadlift and thought I had a inguinal hernia. Went to the surgeon, no hernia. Last year was doing heavy abs, had pain in the upper abdomen and reflux problems, went to the doctor multiple times trying to get them to check if I had a hiatal hernia. Eventually I got a barium x-ray, a CT scan and an upper GI endoscopy. I was shocked to find I had no hernia.
Now, after 2 weeks back from 8 months of unwanted layoff (no money to go to the gym and very little money to eat) I have a very similar pain in the upper abdomen and very similar symptoms. I took the first 4 workouts slow and did moderate weight and then I did 4 heavy workouts with 3x5. All those tests about this time last year cost me nearly 10,000 dollars. Actually having a hernia and having to have it repaired could probably add $5000 to that. Then what if it happened again? What if after that I tore a pec? What about a bulging disc? I’m using good form and warming up well before every workout and these things have still happened.
There is no way in hell I can afford another 10,000 dollars worth of medical bills. There is absolutely no way. I’m only 21 years old and if I get another expensive injury I’ll probably have to quit for good. It really pisses me off, having the determination to lift, not wimp out under a heavy squat and do it regularly is already hard enough, but then I have to worry about getting an injury that could totally bankrupt me. I’d really rather not squat 135 pounds for 10 reps for the rest of my life but I’m thinking that I may actually have to do something like that. I can assure you there would be no fun left in it at that point though.
I started lifting weights for the very first time in my life at age 44. Now 46, I am now deadlifting 400lb. Never been so strong in my life…
So nobody else has had to stop due to financial restraints? I can’t believe that.
[quote]wookieeassassin wrote:
So nobody else has had to stop due to financial restraints? I can’t believe that.[/quote]
Think about it. If they have stopped lifting then they probably won’t be posting on a forum like this…
[quote]S-Lifter wrote:
Simply stated, this is pure bullshit.[/quote]
My sentiment exactly! I would not stop lifting as heavy as I can just bec I am a certain age. I think it’d help regardless of the BS they put out.
Bull.Shit
Has anyone read the logs in “Over 35” lately? There’s some heavy poundages getting moved around that puts most of the 20-somethings here to shame. There are a few in the 40/50 range that make your jaw drop.
Yay osteoporosis. Great idea.
plateau, I suppose you’re right. I would hope I don’t have to stop, but any more expensive injuries and I don’t think I’ll be able to continue. Such a shame, I’d really rather not turn into a big pussy.