What to Consider Before Taking Up a New Sport as a Senior 

Whether you’ve just retired or just want to improve your fitness, taking up a new sport is a great choice. Not only will it fill a free hour or two each week, but it could be an enjoyable way to prioritize your own health. After all, if you don’t use it, you’ll lose it, right? 

But the issue here is beginning a new sport safely. As an older individual, you are at higher risk. You might be more susceptive to fractures, sprains, and strains. This is because your body has gone through natural aging changes – decreased bone density, longer recovery times, reduced joint elasticity, and so on. 

So, you need to take some precautions. This post, outlining three of the key considerations to keep in mind as a senior taking up a new sport, is here to help. 

Consult Your Physician 

Firstly, you need to speak with your doctor. Beginning a new sport might not seem like a major change. A sport could – and often will – increase the physical demands on your body. This means your heart, bones, and joints will be under more stress. In some cases, this will cause your injury risk to skyrocket. 

But consulting your GP helps. They will usually screen your body for certain issues. This might include looking for undiagnosed heart issues, high blood pressure, or irregular rhythms to prevent cardiac events. Or they might assess arthritis, previous injuries, and body density to make recommendations. 

If your take medications, then your doctor will explain how these interact with exercise. For those taking medications for blood pressure, specific heart conditions, and diabetes, this is vital. 

Assess Your Current Fitness Baseline 

It might be tempting to just throw yourself into a sport. After all, what’s the worst that could happen? Well, actually, a lot could happen. You could find yourself suffering from a sport-related injury, for one. Fortunately, it’s easy to avoid this – you just need to assess your current fitness baseline. 

Functional health is the focal point of senior fitness evaluation. You might find yourself completing the Chair Stand Test or the 8-Foot Up. Such tests will typically look into five main aspects: 

*Aerobic endurance,  

*Agility and balance,  

*Body composition,  

*Flexibility,  

*And muscular strength.  

You’ll uncover hidden limits, like pre-existing weaknesses or muscular imbalances, during this. 

Select a Low-Impact Activity 

You need an easy start. A low-impact activity is the perfect beginning. Think of it as a stepping stone almost. It’ll help you build essential joint strength, improve balance, and adapt your endurance. Doing so will reduce the risk of injury. 

Many individuals might be going back and forth between squash vs racquetball. Both are good sports, but they lean more towards moderate to high intensity. For beginners or seniors, pickleball might be the best option. It’s rather low-impact, which makes it a great option and something to build on. 

To conclude, taking up a new sport as a senior is a great idea. Many healthcare professionals encourage this. Not only does it support your physical health, but it also improves your mental health. You just need to do this as safely as possible, as explained above.