Guest guest Posted May 20, 2007 Report Share Posted May 20, 2007 Roy, This doesn't sound like the normal degradation you expect with age. Did something change? Is he cutting back on food to loose some weight perhaps? If it isn't something like that, he should get a thorough medical check-up. Be sure to tell the doctor about the sudden drop in performance, otherwise it will just confirm that the guy is " within normal parameters " . Someone who pushes himself on the bike regularly shoudn't be within normal parameters. His parameters should be near the upper limit. Regards, Johan Bastiaansen Hasselt, Belgium > > I tried to use the search feature to find more info on this subject > here, but search didn't work for me, on any word, even " strength " ) > My coworker is 54 and has been riding road bikes regularly for 20 > years. He didn't notice a big loss of power until he turned 51. Now > when he is climbing a hill, putting out a decent effort, he doesn't > have any reserver when he tries to hammer to catch up with his riding > buddies. (Pre age 51 he always had some reserve even when he was > already riding hard). > > He also noticed a difference after age 51 in hill riding training. > Pre age 51 he would feel weak after his first big hill ride of the > season, but would gradually feel stronger. By the 4th weekend, the > same hill ride felt much easier. Since turning 51, though, the hill > ride still feels just as tough even after a month of riding it. > > Are these effects normal for aging active riders? > Would changes in diet, training, etc., help restore some of his > previous strength and stamina? > Is 51 a reasonable age for these degradations to kick in? > > Any applicable message numbers would be appreciated, as well as any > other links for more related information. > > Thanks. > Roy > [Mod: Please don't forget to sign all letters to Supertraining with your full name, city and country.] > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 21, 2007 Report Share Posted May 21, 2007 I would agree with Johan that the cyclist in question should probably have a general check up to be sure that there has not been change in his health. We all would like to think that be very active will guarantee us freedom from disease but unfortunately that is not the case. I personally know of 3 very active cyclists who were from outward appearances very fit, who nevertheless suffered from heart problems. Two of whom died of heart disease, one suddenly after returning from a training ride, and the third who required a pacemaker. Some individuals may suffer from silent myocardial ischemia which can eventually limit their performance. Peripheral vascular changes may occur especially in individuals with elevated cholesterol levels. Being athletically active mitigates the effects of aging but does not eliminate the effects of the aging process. Like or not despite all our best efforts to the contrary our skills and performance will continue on a slow decline which begins at about age 32 and begins to accelerate somewhere in our 50s with a final steep decline in our 70's. To illustrate this point Dr. Seiler gives a synopsis of a great study done by Dr. Costill in which he studied a group of runners over a period of 20+ years. (http://home.hia.no/~stephens/oldelite.htm ) " Aging among Elite Distance Runners: A 22-yr Longitudinal Study SW Trappe, DL Costill, MD Vukovich, J , & T Melham. Human Performance Laboratory, Ball State University, Muncie, Indiana Journal of Applied Physiology 80(1):285-290, 1996 " One group in this study is particularly interesting namely the group of highly trained runners who continued to training at a high intensity and actively compete in age appropriate groups. In this group which had the least amount of decline over a 20 year period there was nevertheless a 14% decrease in their VO2 max ml/min/kg (from av 69.8 to 59.2) This inevitable decline has been long recognized in the age groupings of Master athletes. Most competitions break down the ages in 5 year groupings. If you the exam the world records in rowing for instance you will see a peak in the mid 30's with gradual decline over the subsequent 5 year groups. Certainly there are the exceptional athletes who are able successfully compete with much younger age groups but there is a limit here also. You are not likely to find many 60 yo athletes beating athletes 20 years their junior. My recommendation is that the athlete in question should get a good check up and if he is in good health then he needs to resign himself to the inevitability of a declining performance. Ralph Giarnella MD Southington Ct USA --- wreckless61a wrote: > Roy, > > This doesn't sound like the normal degradation you > expect with age. > Did something change? Is he cutting back on food to > loose some weight > perhaps? > If it isn't something like that, he should get a > thorough medical > check-up. Be sure to tell the doctor about the > sudden drop in > performance, otherwise it will just confirm that the > guy is " within > normal parameters " . Someone who pushes himself on > the bike regularly > shoudn't be within normal parameters. His parameters > should be near > the upper limit. > > Regards, > Johan Bastiaansen > Hasselt, Belgium > > > > > > I tried to use the search feature to find more > info on this subject > > here, but search didn't work for me, on any word, > even " strength " ) > > My coworker is 54 and has been riding road bikes > regularly for 20 > > years. He didn't notice a big loss of power until > he turned 51. > Now > > when he is climbing a hill, putting out a decent > effort, he doesn't > > have any reserver when he tries to hammer to catch > up with his > riding > > buddies. (Pre age 51 he always had some reserve > even when he was > > already riding hard). > > > > He also noticed a difference after age 51 in hill > riding training. > > Pre age 51 he would feel weak after his first big > hill ride of the > > season, but would gradually feel stronger. By the > 4th weekend, the > > same hill ride felt much easier. Since turning > 51, though, the hill > > ride still feels just as tough even after a month > of riding it. > > > > Are these effects normal for aging active > riders? > > Would changes in diet, training, etc., help > restore some of his > > previous strength and stamina? > > Is 51 a reasonable age for these degradations to > kick in? > > > > Any applicable message numbers would be > appreciated, as well as any > > other links for more related information. > > > > Thanks. > > Roy > > [Mod: Please don't forget to sign all letters to > Supertraining with > your full name, city and country.] > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 25, 2007 Report Share Posted May 25, 2007 Just a note on this from my own personal experience. I too, at around 48 years old, noticed a marked decrease in my strength. I don't know if your friend is having aerobic problems or strength problems, and my sports are climbing and skiing. So I got back into the gym to regain my lost strength, figuring I was just getting older and had to do a little more. Thing was though, that my gains were coming *very slowly. Well, to make a long story short, it turns out that my problem is neurological. I have developed a neck problem, half congenital, half degenerative, that creates a stenosis and puts pressure on my spinal cord, so the nerve impulses are not getting sent to the muscles. Boy.. it looks like I get to have neck surgery to freeze the two vertebre in the near future. I can't tell you how excited I am about that. Ugh. So you might think about sending your friend to a neurologist to see if all is well with his reflexes/nerves and such. Any numbness or tingling in extremities or unsteadiness walking down stairs or supped up reflexive reactions? It may not be just performance lost from aging. And I hear tell that biking is hard on one's neck. Just a thought. Dave Salisbury Boulder, CO USA > > I tried to use the search feature to find more info on this subject > here, but search didn't work for me, on any word, even " strength " ) > My coworker is 54 and has been riding road bikes regularly for 20 > years. He didn't notice a big loss of power until he turned 51. Now > when he is climbing a hill, putting out a decent effort, he doesn't > have any reserver when he tries to hammer to catch up with his riding > buddies. (Pre age 51 he always had some reserve even when he was > already riding hard). > > He also noticed a difference after age 51 in hill riding training. > Pre age 51 he would feel weak after his first big hill ride of the > season, but would gradually feel stronger. By the 4th weekend, the > same hill ride felt much easier. Since turning 51, though, the hill > ride still feels just as tough even after a month of riding it. > > Are these effects normal for aging active riders? > Would changes in diet, training, etc., help restore some of his > previous strength and stamina? > Is 51 a reasonable age for these degradations to kick in? > > Any applicable message numbers would be appreciated, as well as any > other links for more related information. > > Thanks. > Roy > [Mod: Please don't forget to sign all letters to Supertraining with your full name, city and country.] > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 25, 2007 Report Share Posted May 25, 2007 What do you mean by 'supped up' reflexive actions? Do you mean heightened reflexive actions? San , Ca --- salisbur1 wrote: > > > Just a note on this from my own personal experience. > I too, at around > 48 years old, noticed a marked decrease in my > strength. I don't know > if your friend is having aerobic problems or > strength problems, and my > sports are climbing and skiing. So I got back into > the gym to regain > my lost strength, figuring I was just getting older > and had to do a > little more. Thing was though, that my gains were > coming *very > slowly. Well, to make a long story short, it turns > out that my > problem is neurological. I have developed a neck > problem, half > congenital, half degenerative, that creates a > stenosis and puts > pressure on my spinal cord, so the nerve impulses > are not getting sent > to the muscles. Boy.. it looks like I get to have > neck surgery to > freeze the two vertebre in the near future. I can't > tell you how > excited I am about that. Ugh. > > So you might think about sending your friend to a > neurologist to see > if all is well with his reflexes/nerves and such. > Any numbness or > tingling in extremities or unsteadiness walking down > stairs or supped > up reflexive reactions? It may not be just > performance lost from > aging. And I hear tell that biking is hard on one's > neck. > > Just a thought. > > Dave Salisbury > Boulder, CO > USA > > > > > > > > > > I tried to use the search feature to find more > info on this subject > > here, but search didn't work for me, on any word, > even " strength " ) > > My coworker is 54 and has been riding road bikes > regularly for 20 > > years. He didn't notice a big loss of power until > he turned 51. Now > > when he is climbing a hill, putting out a decent > effort, he doesn't > > have any reserver when he tries to hammer to catch > up with his riding > > buddies. (Pre age 51 he always had some reserve > even when he was > > already riding hard). > > > > He also noticed a difference after age 51 in hill > riding training. > > Pre age 51 he would feel weak after his first big > hill ride of the > > season, but would gradually feel stronger. By the > 4th weekend, the > > same hill ride felt much easier. Since turning > 51, though, the hill > > ride still feels just as tough even after a month > of riding it. > > > > Are these effects normal for aging active > riders? > > Would changes in diet, training, etc., help > restore some of his > > previous strength and stamina? > > Is 51 a reasonable age for these degradations to > kick in? > > > > Any applicable message numbers would be > appreciated, as well as any > > other links for more related information. > > > > Thanks. > > Roy > > [Mod: Please don't forget to sign all letters to > Supertraining with > your full name, city and country.] > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 25, 2007 Report Share Posted May 25, 2007 Hi Dave, Before you have them cut your neck open take a look at one of the books by Sarno, M.D. a professor of physical medicine at one of the New York State medical schools. I had two doctors (a neurologist and physical medicine specialist) tell me I needed immediate spinal surgery to correct my stenosis and to keep it from getting worse. I read a couple of Sarno's books and followed his advise and I am 90% better. I don't need surgery and my stenosis is gone. Maybe you'll be lucky as I was. I hope so. Vince Gratton Pueblo, Colorado ================== Re: Aging Active Cyclists Just a note on this from my own personal experience. I too, at around 48 years old, noticed a marked decrease in my strength. I don't know if your friend is having aerobic problems or strength problems, and my sports are climbing and skiing. So I got back into the gym to regain my lost strength, figuring I was just getting older and had to do a little more. Thing was though, that my gains were coming *very slowly. Well, to make a long story short, it turns out that my problem is neurological. I have developed a neck problem, half congenital, half degenerative, that creates a stenosis and puts pressure on my spinal cord, so the nerve impulses are not getting sent to the muscles. Boy.. it looks like I get to have neck surgery to freeze the two vertebre in the near future. I can't tell you how excited I am about that. Ugh. So you might think about sending your friend to a neurologist to see if all is well with his reflexes/nerves and such. Any numbness or tingling in extremities or unsteadiness walking down stairs or supped up reflexive reactions? It may not be just performance lost from aging. And I hear tell that biking is hard on one's neck. Just a thought. Dave Salisbury Boulder, CO USA > > I tried to use the search feature to find more info on this subject > here, but search didn't work for me, on any word, even " strength " ) > My coworker is 54 and has been riding road bikes regularly for 20 > years. He didn't notice a big loss of power until he turned 51. Now > when he is climbing a hill, putting out a decent effort, he doesn't > have any reserver when he tries to hammer to catch up with his riding > buddies. (Pre age 51 he always had some reserve even when he was > already riding hard). > > He also noticed a difference after age 51 in hill riding training. > Pre age 51 he would feel weak after his first big hill ride of the > season, but would gradually feel stronger. By the 4th weekend, the > same hill ride felt much easier. Since turning 51, though, the hill > ride still feels just as tough even after a month of riding it. > > Are these effects normal for aging active riders? > Would changes in diet, training, etc., help restore some of his > previous strength and stamina? > Is 51 a reasonable age for these degradations to kick in? > > Any applicable message numbers would be appreciated, as well as any > other links for more related information. > > Thanks. > Roy > [Mod: Please don't forget to sign all letters to Supertraining with your full name, city and country.] > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 26, 2007 Report Share Posted May 26, 2007 Yep, heightened. I have a condition they've named clonus. One symptom is what I call " Elvis Leg " . Under certain conditions my leg can start jiggling. Tapping on the knee also creates a reaction about twice as strong as normal. Basically, the brain isn't able to send signals down to the leg to dampen the reflexive impulses that are sent directly ( originating ) from the lower spinal column. Dave Salisbury Boulder, CO > > > > > > > Just a note on this from my own personal experience. > > I too, at around > > 48 years old, noticed a marked decrease in my > > strength. I don't know > > if your friend is having aerobic problems or > > strength problems, and my > > sports are climbing and skiing. So I got back into > > the gym to regain > > my lost strength, figuring I was just getting older > > and had to do a > > little more. Thing was though, that my gains were > > coming *very > > slowly. Well, to make a long story short, it turns > > out that my > > problem is neurological. I have developed a neck > > problem, half > > congenital, half degenerative, that creates a > > stenosis and puts > > pressure on my spinal cord, so the nerve impulses > > are not getting sent > > to the muscles. Boy.. it looks like I get to have > > neck surgery to > > freeze the two vertebre in the near future. I can't > > tell you how > > excited I am about that. Ugh. > > > > So you might think about sending your friend to a > > neurologist to see > > if all is well with his reflexes/nerves and such. > > Any numbness or > > tingling in extremities or unsteadiness walking down > > stairs or supped > > up reflexive reactions? It may not be just > > performance lost from > > aging. And I hear tell that biking is hard on one's > > neck. > > > > Just a thought. > > > > Dave Salisbury > > Boulder, CO > > USA > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 26, 2007 Report Share Posted May 26, 2007 Thanks for the tip Vince! Any books in particular? I see on Amazon one called " Healing Back Pain: The Mind-Body Connection " , but my stenois might be more severe. It's more along the lines of extremity unsteadiness and weakness. I might be past the " keep from getting worse " stage, unfortunately. I'm not eager to be cut open either though. Salisbury Boulder, CO > > Hi Dave, > > Before you have them cut your neck open take a look at one of the books by Sarno, M.D. a professor of physical medicine at one of the New York State medical schools. I had two doctors (a neurologist and physical medicine specialist) tell me I needed immediate spinal surgery to correct my stenosis and to keep it from getting worse. I read a couple of Sarno's books and followed his advise and I am 90% better. I don't need surgery and my stenosis is gone. Maybe you'll be lucky as I was. I hope so. > > Vince Gratton > Pueblo, Colorado > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 26, 2007 Report Share Posted May 26, 2007 Hi Dave, Besides looking at Sarno's material as Vince suggested, also look at the book " Fix Your Pain Without Drugs or Surgery " by Dr. Jolie Bookspan: posture, posture, posture. Also look into Active Release Technique (non-surgical treatment) at www.activerelease.com. To shorten my own story, MRI shows I have bulging disks in my neck, most significant at C6/C7 (leftward). When I learned of the results, I started paying attention to my own spinal alignment and movement, even closing my eyes during many exercises to de-train the chin jutting that seems to become second nature and focus on keeping things neutral. As I waited for the various doctor appointments to roll around (neurosurgeon and pain mgt doc), my ART practitioner and I came to a practical definition of what " getting worse " means. I kept returning to heavier training and nothing was getting worse; in fact, there was improvement. So by the time I saw the two docs above, their advice to " not lift heavy weights " was pretty much disproved. Did not do steroid shot or surgery. The problem isn't completely gone, but it is not a bar to my performance (competitive powerlifter who also does cardio). And I know that a surgeon's idea of a good outcome may be dramatically different from my idea. I hope this info helps you! E-mail me if you have more questions! Merrick, M.A. ACSM HFI, NSCACPT/CSCS, NASM CPT Bellevue, NE USA > > Just a note on this from my own personal experience. I too, at around 48 years old, noticed a marked decrease in my strength. I don't know if your friend is having aerobic problems or strength problems, and my sports are climbing and skiing. So I got back into the gym to regain my lost strength, figuring I was just getting older and had to do a little more. Thing was though, that my gains were coming *very slowly. Well, to make a long story short, it turns out that my problem is neurological. I have developed a neck problem, half congenital, half degenerative, that creates a stenosis and puts pressure on my spinal cord, so the nerve impulses are not getting sent to the muscles. Boy.. it looks like I get to have neck surgery to freeze the two vertebre in the near future. I can't tell you how excited I am about that. Ugh. So you might think about sending your friend to a neurologist to see if all is well with his reflexes/nerves and such. Any numbness or tingling in extremities or unsteadiness walking down stairs or supped up reflexive reactions? It may not be just performance lost from aging. And I hear tell that biking is hard on one's neck. > > Just a thought. > > Dave Salisbury > Boulder, CO > USA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.