"Return To Sport" For Older Adults

​Return to sport is a term commonly used with high school, college and Olympic athletes. It looks at how quickly you can return someone to a high level of competitive performance after an injury. The goal is to minimize lost playing time by returning the athlete to full health and physical fitness as soon as possible. How could this mindset apply to aging adults?

Even though most of the people we interact with every day do not play a competitive sport, we work with many clients who have a love for an active lifestyle. This could be anything from gardening to golfing to pickleball. In a recent conference one of the speakers said to think about it as gardening season, golf season or pickleball season.
Especially when we look at seasonal activities, you want to make sure you are in the best shape possible to get out there and enjoy it. But what about the “sport” of aging in place? Of being able to take care of yourself and your home? I think this is the most important season of all, and applies to all aging adults. So how do we use this same mindset to help our aging clients minimize time being sidelined?

Phase 1: Get out of pain ASAP!
Pain is a limiting factor for many people. Professional athletes have a myriad of options at their disposal to get them out of pain and and allow them to start the recovery ASAP. One of these options is Regenerative Therapy - Shockwave and EMTT. I actually first heard of these interventions in relation to professional sports teams using them to get their athletes back on the field as soon as possible.
When athletes are sidelined due to an injury, they aren’t able to play, and miss out on contributing to the team. What happens when you are sidelined by pain? You also start to miss out, but for you it’s missing out on life. So why wouldn’t you do everything you could to get out of pain ASAP and get back to living and enjoying life?
Phase 2: Strengthen what’s weak.
Even though your sport may be brining in the groceries, or carrying the laundry down the stairs, the principles are no different. In fact, we find those who begin to struggle with taking care of themselves or their homes have a higher risk of disability than those who don’t. This is why you don’t want to put off seeking help when you begin to struggle with your daily activities.
For many of our clients, this is where
1-1 Physical Therapy sessions come into play. Whether it’s your strength, balance, or endurance that’s lacking, working with a physical therapist to create a custom plan for you is best. We address the deficits and build back your independence and confidence, allowing you to participate fully in life.

Phase 3: Maintenance and beyond.
This is where our ExerMoves Fitness Classes come into play. Maintenance does not just focus on helping you to maintain your current level of fitness. It looks to build on that strong foundation to get you stronger and stronger. Our goal is to get you as fit as possible, allowing you to feel confident in your ability to stay active and enjoy life fully.
One thing that sets HouseFit apart from other clinics is our ability to provide all 3 phases under the same roof. This means you get to work with our amazing team every step of the way.
Even if you are not a pro athlete, why wouldn’t you want to minimize your “down-time” and get back on the field of life as soon as possible? How long have you been sidelined from your favorite activities? Are you worried you may have to retire from them? Don’t let time keep slipping by. Take action today to live your best life.

​-Dr. Beth