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'Boomeritis': A generation of sports injuries
By Stephanie Smith
(CNN) -- "Boomeritis" hit Richard Cotton one afternoon as he was running up a steep hill. "[It had] never happened to me," said Cotton, an exercise physiologist. "And I've been running since I was 14 years old." Instead of running down the hill, the 51-year-old from Carlsbad, California, dragged himself down slowly -- he had strained his calf. After limping around for a week, he tried to tackle the hill again, but with the same grim results. This time he was off his feet for two weeks. What Cotton encountered that day was the baby boomer workout nemesis "boomeritis," a term gaining ground for the flood of sports injuries suffered by members of the baby boomer generation. It's an emerging trend and a dangerous one according to Pennsylvania orthopedic surgeon Nick DiNubile. "As the baby boomer generation turns 40 and 50, we've seen an explosion of bone and joint aches, pains, injuries, ailments," DiNubile said. An active generationDoctors agree that baby boomers -- those born between 1946 and 1964 (the term derives from the post-World War II baby boom) -- are a more active group than previous generations. All that activity may be a boon for their fitness, but working out with the same intensity as they did when they were younger may be causing an inordinate number of injuries to crop up. "[Baby boomers are] not more prone to injury," said Dr. James V. Luck Jr., professor and vice chair of the Department of Orthopedics at UCLA. "There are more of them. They are more active and more concerned about fitness and sports. That's why we're seeing more of an influx of injuries." According to DiNubile, a major element of boomeritis stems from overuse injuries. Overuse occurs during repetitive motion such as biking, exercising on rowing machines, or repeatedly hitting tennis balls. The repeated motion can cause subtle micro-damage to tissues that could lead to injuries that are more serious later. Some common side effects of overuse include foot and ankle injuries, muscle tendon tears and rotator cuff problems. "There is a whole spectrum of injuries we're seeing as people are aging and continuing to stay in exercise routines," said Dr. Robert Audell, an orthopedic surgeon in Los Angeles. "For people who exercise at the gym we frequently see shoulder problems. And for runners we see a whole slew of knee, foot and ankle injuries." Sports injuries among baby boomers are starting to paint a picture of a trend -- one that isn't just a boomer burden, but a potential debacle for the nation's health care system. According to figures from the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, baby boomers suffered more than 1 million sports injuries in 1998, the most recent statistics available. That represented a 33 percent increase since 1991. The academy estimates that more than $18 billion a year is spent on medical costs stemming from sports-related injuries to baby boomers. Preventing boomeritisHow can you dodge boomeritis? DiNubile offers some precepts that should reduce the incidence of injury. • Train smarter, not harder, by balancing fitness routines. Mixing it up and embracing cross-training principles may alleviate stress by not using the same muscles repeatedly. • Listen to your body. When you have aches or pains, consult with a sports medicine specialist or orthopedic surgeon to explore preventive measures and possibly modify your program. • Don't stop exercising. "Sedentary behavior is as dangerous as smoking a pack of cigarettes a day," DiNubile said. Richard Cotton doesn't let the looming injury threat discourage him. He continues a rigorous exercise regimen three to five days a week, with a mix of aerobic and strength training, but with some minor modifications since his experience on the hill. "I wouldn't suddenly decide to go for a 10-mile run or do sprint intervals on the track at this point," Cotton said. "If I'm playing sports, I would be conscious of my need to be some kind of hero or need to show off." "There's been a trend toward the concept of exercise being good for you that has reached the masses," Audell said. "I caution my patients that aggressive activities are counterproductive. You have to exercise smarter or else you will get hurt."
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