Sports strength and conditioning as you get older

Most injuries that occur in mature athletes on the sporting field come as a result of performing a movement the body isn’t prepared for. Did you know that strength and conditioning isn’t only for kids and teenagers playing sport? You may be interested to know that the same benefits kids get from training in the gym also apply to adults and mature-aged athletes. These benefits include improved power and strength; increased body awareness and coordination; increasing cardiovascular fitness; and decreased risk of injury. 

Strength and conditioning also serves to benefit you in combatting common age-related changes such as decreases in bone mineral density (particularly for women that are going through or have gone through menopause); and preventing cognitive changes associated with aging. 

When designing strength and conditioning programs for mature athletes, we consider your day-to-day activities and habits, exercise and injury history as well as your sporting performance goals in order to create a plan that best compliments your lifestyle and achieve the best result.

• Bec Patterson, Exercise and Sport Scientist