Physiotherapy Q&A: how do I get back into sport in my mid fifties?

I am inspired to start up some new sports but don’t know what to try. I am in my early 50’s and haven’t done regular sport since my 20’s. I really want to try a range of sports but don’t know what to start with to minimise my risk of injury, do you have any suggestions?

You should always do what you enjoy, right? Well it’s the same for exercise – do what you enjoy!

To be more precise, swimming, walking and cycling are all excellent sports that you can pick up today with low injury risk. More importantly, the benefits of sport and exercise far outweigh the risks. Of course, you should start with an easy time, distance and intensity. This will vary from person to person, no matter the age. So the secret is: do what is manageable today and gradually progress over time.  

The World Health Organisation and the NHS agree that at this age you are recommended to do a minimum of 150 minutes of exercise per week. This is anything that increases the heart rate. As an example, you could achieve this goal by walking 30 minutes, five days a week. Here are some of the benefits of exercising:

  • Mental health
  • Blood pressure
  • Cardiorespiratory
  • Cholesterol levels
  • Bone health
  • Reduce risk of cancer
  • Reduce of disease
  • Better joint and muscle health
  • Socialising
  • Improving your independence and function

If you are interested in resuming a sport and are worried about the injury risk, then please consult one of our physiotherapists who would be willing to assist. Our physiotherapists can even assist in returning to more daring sports, dependent on your capability- never say never. We also run classes and personal training sessions in our gym. These are achievable steps towards returning to your sport in a safe and controlled manner.

What makes Horder Healthcare unique

Horder Healthcare is committed to providing the very best quality of care for our patients and customers. We are continuously working on improving and reducing risks and this is reflected in our consistently high CQC results, patient satisfaction questionnaires and minimal levels of infection.

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