Exercise & Aging: You're Not 20 Anymore Cedars-Sinai Skip to content Close Select your preferred language English عربى 简体中文 繁體中文 فارسي עִברִית 日本語 한국어 Русский Español Tagalog Menu Close Call 1-800-CEDARS-1 toggle search form Close Share Email Print CS-Blog Cedars-Sinai Blog You' re Not 20 Anymore—It' s Time to Agercise Nov 13, 2017 Cedars-Sinai Staff Share Tweet Post Sprains and strains are painful, but avid exercisers often see them as little more than a nuisance. Dr. Robert Klapper calls them something else: a blessing. "When you're 50, I'm only going to let you have one abuse. Hiking. Racketball. Tennis. Pick one." "It's a wake-up call," says Dr. Klapper, co-director of the Hip & Knee Replacement Program at Cedars-Sinai. "It's your body whispering rather than shouting at you." These injuries are warnings that if you keep doing what you're doing, you could do major damage. "We need to listen to our bodies," says Dr. Klapper, "especially as we get older." Read: Ask a Doc: Is Running Good or Bad for You? "Aging is a lot like what happens to a bungee cord," he adds. "You get the cord from the store and it's new, elastic, and stretchy. Leave it out in the sun or the rain, or take it to the beach—over time, it won't behave in the same fashion. Our bodies are the same way: The collagen that gives us our elasticity dries out over time." If an exercise hurts, stop immediately. It's a sign you're doing damage to your body. Click To Tweet When our bodies lose elasticity and can no longer accommodate a movement through stretching, sprains, strains, and other injuries are the result. But that's not an excuse to give up working out. Your body still needs exercise—it just needs different types of exercise than it used to. According to Dr. Klapper, the solution is "agercise." Tips for healthy agercising Tailor your exercise to your age and your needs Dr. Klapper encourages physical activity, but urges people to be smart about it. The sport you loved playing in college might not be the best option as you age. Read in Discoveries: Age: A Biological Guide to Longevity Water aerobics and other pool activities are excellent for adults, especially as they get into their 40s and 50s. These workouts allow you to build muscle without hammering on precious cartilage. They aren't enough for women concerned about warding off osteoporosis, however. For that you'll need to come out of the water. Dr. Klapper recommends tai chi: slow, graceful movements performed in a focused and flowing manner with low impact on the joints. Read: Meniscus Tears: FAQ Shun the notion of no pain no gain Dr. Klapper has seen many patients who work out with professional trainers and end up with injuries because they work through pain. If an exercise hurts, stop immediately. It's a sign you're doing damage to your body. If parts of your body regularly hurt or the pain doesn't go away, consult your doctor. Don't ignore the pain. You could end up needing surgery or other serious interventions. Read: Torn Achilles Tendon: FAQ Pick your exercise vice Dr. Klapper divides exercise into two categories: nurturing and abuse. "We all love the abuse," he says. "Tennis. Skiing. Running. But keep in mind that you don't get younger from exercise, and you don't lose weight from exercise alone. Weight loss requires changes in your eating, not just moving more." As you age, you should ease up on the abuse. For nurturing, Dr. Klapper loves the pool, bikes, elliptical machines, and mat Pilates. He's opposed to treadmills, lunges, squats, stair machines, and weights for the lower extremities. "When you're 50, I'm only going to let you have one abuse," he says. "Hiking. Racketball. Tennis. Pick one." Read: FAQ: Hamstring Injuries Tags Prevention Fitness and Exercise Expert Advice Bone and Joint Health Aging Orthopaedics Share Tweet Post Popular Categories Health + Wellness Science + Innovation Community Blog & Magazines catalyst Blog & Magazines Home CS-Blog Blog CS Magazine Cedars-Sinai Magazine discoveries magazine Discoveries Magazine Embracing our Community Embracing Our Community Blog & Magazines catalyst Blog & Magazines Home CS-Blog Blog Embracing our Community Embracing Our Community CS Magazine Cedars-Sinai Magazine discoveries magazine Discoveries Magazine Popular Topics Cancer Women's Health Heart Expert Advice Patient Stories Brain Make an Appointment Find a Doctor Schedule a Callback Call us 24 hours a day 1-800-CEDARS-1 Support Cedars-Sinai Make a Gift Volunteer Share Email Print Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility