sports


conditioning


Nifty After 50: This US chain has developed its


offering specifically to cater for an older client base


of top of the range gym equipment, these players can signifi cantly extend their playing life. We’re delighted to be involved with this elite athletic conditioning and advancement, working with the top athletes in football to support the longevity of their careers.”


older amateurs While competition and ‘personal bests’ are usually the motivation of elite veteran athletes, research has shown that protection against sickness and disability are increasingly listed as the primary motives for participation in sport among older athletes in the general public. Amanda Ellison, coach at Sobell


badminton club in north London, says:


“We’ve defi nitely noticed an increase in the average age of players at our club. Badminton lends itself well to older players as it provides a fun, social and safe environment while not being too physically challenging – the equipment is very lightweight. “Not only that, but most older


people are far more used to playing a sport to keep fi t rather than going to a gym to lift weights.” Ellison identifi es the social offering


that sport can provide as an important aspect for older people: “Playing a sport not only provides physical benefi ts, but


42


allows veteran athletes the opportunity to spend time interacting with other people with similar interests.” Many health clubs and leisure centres


with sporting facilities are already tapping into this opportunity – but could more be done? Could clubs maximise off-peak capacity via ‘silver surfer’ tennis-and-social sessions, for example? And for those older members who


do also venture into the gym, sports- specifi c conditioning programmes could be developed to help ensure they’re able to continue with these life- enhancing ‘sport and social’ activities for longer – programmes that take into consideration the implications of ageing on sporting ability, with aspects such as core strength and fl exibility at the heart of the programmes. Equipment manufacturer Keiser


has signifi cant expertise in the area of exercise and ageing, with the Keiser Institute On Aging (KIOA) set up in 1999 – a web-based information site that integrates the efforts of researchers, practitioners and health professionals to provide older adults with the knowledge and tools they need to maintain an optimum level of health (see HCM March 08, p34). As part of the KIOA, Keiser also


developed the acclaimed Strength Training Exercise Programme (S.T.E.P), which provides information on how


Read Health Club Management online at healthclubmanagement.co.uk/digital


exercise can help conditions such as arthritis, osteoporosis, diabetes and hypertension. It has also developed a number of exercise programmes for older populations, including circuit strength training classes and sport- specifi c programmes tailored for senior athletes.


spreading the net Given the pace at which the veteran sports conditioning field is developing, might we one day see 60-year-old athletes still holding their own against up-and-coming young stars? Sporting accolades are certainly no longer limited to the young, and our traditional perception of what constitutes an athlete is becoming increasingly broad. The health and fi tness industry needs


to acknowledge and cater for an ageing population – both at an elite and a recreational level – and the smarter brands are those who are already seeing the opportunities and reaping the rewards. As Majakas observes:


“We’re increasingly looking at how our equipment can be used to increase opportunities for all members of the population, at all stages of development and for all ages and abilities.”


healthclub@leisuremedia.com kirstyn macrandal


august 2011 © cybertrek 2011


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