I've noticed quite a few "older" skaters post in this forum, which is very encouraging to me, taking it up again at 46 after 20 years absence - I was in my 20's when I skated before.

I am interested to hear how others have overcome the challenges of age?
In my case it is my size and creaky knees. They sound terrible climbing stairs.

(I know people say "use it or lose it", but how do you get it back? I am trying to do very gentle exercises every day to improve the strength in the muscles surrounding the knees. Any tips on specific exercises I can do to improve my knee bend at this stage of deterioration?)

I have noticed some older skaters at our rink have a real fear of falling or making a fool of themselves. Me, I've always been a flat-out, kamikaze sort of skater, I figure if you aren't falling over, you aren't trying.

What have others found to be the biggest challenges to overcome as an "older" skater?


Karen

The biggest challenge as an older skater wasn't physical, it was mental. I really hate it when people say that they can't do things because of their age!!! In my opinion it really IS a state of mind. If you're physically fairly fit there is absolutely no reason that you can't skate to a decent level. If you're not fit then you will become fitter and it will take longer but you will still be able to do it. It is the BRAIN that stops us from doing things IMO

Since my 30's I have taken up ballet again, done Jazz, Contemporary, Hip-Hop, Swing Dance, Brazilian Dance, Belly Dancing (I was crap), acrobatics, figure skating and ice dance, started horse riding again (done dressage, show jumping AND cross country) and, recently, pole dancing! I used to go to a 2 week summer school at a (then) local dance school. I was probably the oldest there but I was the fittest AND I kept being asked which company I was in

*Us* oldies have the advantage of being able to understand what is being asked of us, we have the finances to be able to work out a lesson schedule, we have the committment to practice, we ENJOY what we're doing. We may be further from the ground but we can still do it

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The best whisper is a click

Quick answer before I run off to work: if your knees make noises but don't hurt, don't worry about it. Start off with a little skating and see how they do. If your knees hurt or swell during or after skating, see your doctor or a good physical therapist.

I'm 41 and have been skating for 10 years. I've already have knee surgery and was just diagnosed with osteoarthritis in both knees. To quote Arnold Schwarzenegger, "I'll be back."

I'm with skaternum on this one. I will also add that I had a knee injury as a teenager and as a result of that I am very disciplined about keeping the muscles around my knee strong. I do leg extensions and leg curls at my gym, one leg at a time so each one has to do the work. While my knees make noises, I never have any pain or any other issues.

Good luck and welcome back!

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August 22, back on the ice!

Although I don't have a knee injury, they are getting older and sometimes bother me (especially when I land wrong on jumps). Mostly, it's just being 40+ and I just recently got in shape (this past year).

Celliste: I do know that the more weight you carry puts extra stress on your knees and back. Once I lost weight, my back felt better! You just don't want to go on any weird fad or crash diet. Putting on some muscle will help boost your metabolism and strengthen your body, and no, you won't look like some muscle-bound freak!! I think most of us skaters lift weights or use exercise bands.

Tashakat: I've been fighting the mental aspect of this sport since I started! First, it was fear of being in the open part of the rink and leaving the security of the wall. Then it was actually leaving the security of the ice and jumping! Now, I'm trying to get all my body parts to work together and do what they are supposed to do; along with not freaking out when my music plays..... all this while still trying to have FUN doing it!

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Skate@Delaware
Ah, show skating!!! I do it for the glitter!

Both of my knees hurt pretty chronically now, but I keep on skating. My right knee creaks when I bend and unbend, but it hurts less than the left knee, which is the one that has to do the bending during a sit spin. I wear an elastic knee brace on my left knee. It helps to support it somewhat. I have not sought medical advice so far. I probably should - maybe there is a relatively good surgical fix that would give me another bunch of years of skating with less pain.

I started skating at age 41 and am now 53. I still fall 2 or 3 times each time I practice, because I continue to practice things that are not second nature to me yet. I am still on a "positive slope" learning curve and can see weekly, if not daily, incremental improvement in everything - so that keeps me motivated! I really do plan on having an axel before I "retire". Right now, the lutz is my highest jump.

I'm mid-40s... I fell skiing about 6 years ago and ruptured my left ACL/MCL. Had ACL reconstruction surgery (MCL healed on own before the surgery... the ACL surgery was delayed to allow for the MCL healing.)

About 3 years ago, when I was trying to quickly learn the Rocker Foxtrot enough to compete it a month later, I tore cartilige and possibly meniscus in my right knee. Went to doc, had MRI, had Ortho referral, found out that my insurance wouldn't even cover 50% of the costs and put things off. Did some rehab on my own (gym etc.) based on my rehab experiences on my other knee.

Right knee has grinding/rubbing and every so often I have a Baker's cyst in it that swells up, but I keep skating and doing other activities (haven't skied since I did this though.) Some days it is more troublesome than others, and my coach knows that when I say it's bothering me, that we should work on something else.

I will need to get the right knee scoped at some point in the future. I am putting it off as long as possible, since every time the docs have to go in (even arthroscopically), there is the chance of scar tissue build-up afterwards, and things turn into a vicious cycle.

Best advice I can give is to try and keep all 4 major leg muscle groups as strong as possible on each leg (quads/hamstrings on upper leg, and shins/calves on lower leg). Good strong leg muscles will support the knee.

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American Waltz... Once, Twice, ???? ...

Q: How many coaches does it take to fix Jen's Dance Intro-3 Problems
A: 5 and counting...

And you don't need a gym to do these. A decent pair of ankle weights and a carpetted floor will do the job.

Another good exercise is toe stands. Stand straight and rise up on one foot slowly, then back down slowly. Do this both with your knee straight and with a bent knee. After you can do 3 sets of 10 comfortably, start doing them with a weight in your hands.

I dislocated my knee many years ago and these are the 3 exercises the ortho had me doing three times a day.

I didn't start skating until I was 47 (now 51) and have dealt with knee aches (including knee surgery for non-skating related problems). Started taking Glucosamine and MSN and it really helped with the aches after a couple of weeks.

Since my surgery, I'm on a maintenance dose of 4 Advil three times a day. Really helps reduce the aches and inflamation.

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Many go fishing all their lives without knowing that it is not fish they are after. - Henry David Thoreau

According to my PT and ortho, the best way for a woman to strengthen the quad is with properly done squats. On women, the inner portion of the quad is usually disproportionately weak when compared to the central and outer insertion points of the muscle, which leads to instability and all its ugliness. So women usually need to work on increasing the strenth of the inner portion of the quad without increasing the other 3 parts of the muscle.

A proper squat is done so that the knees do NOT extend out beyond the feet. For those of us trained in ballet, it feels awful! It feels like you're sticking your butt out behind you. My PT described it as the same postition you get in when you're halfway down to sitting in a chair.

Also, women tend to have an imbalance between quad and hamstring strength. It's very important to keep the hamstrings strong too.

Not just that, but if you tend to be active in sports like, for example, basketball or anything with a lot of running, you can get overdeveloped quads and pull your knee out of whack. This happened to a male friend of mine in school, who was playing a lot of basketball at the time.

I have read that there is a difference in the way female athletes stabilize their knee on sudden twisting as compared to how male athletes do that. Can't remember if the tendency is to use their quads or hamstrings, but they seem to think this is a reason female athletes tend to injure their ACL more easily. I think there has been some research done trying to train the female athletes to use their muscles differently, or maybe it was strength training aimed at fixing any imbalance. I think your hamstrings are supposed to be able to lift something like 2/3 of the weight that your quads can do, and many people fall short of that.

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August 22, back on the ice!

I've just realised how awful that sounded I wasn't being horrid and I didn't mean that anyone with injuries or health problems were faking it ..... sorry if I offended anyone, I didn't mean to, honest

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The best whisper is a click

Yes, it is extremely important to do leg curls for the hamstrings and leg extensions for the inner quads. Otherwise, the outer quads--which we use the most when we skate--can get disproportionately strong and pull unevenly on the knees. Also, I find that as soon as I stop taking glucosamine, my knees start creaking when I go down stairs, so I recommend glucosamine, too.

Started again after a 30 year absence at age 52..I will be 60 in March.

I have a rebuilt left near and arthritis in my back and neck and my right elbow.

A salchow is my highest jump and I am currently doing figures as well.

I always joke that I do not do spirals anymore because the cracking sound in my back annoyed the other skaters!

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Keeping School Figures Alive!!

I have horrible creaky knee on the left but not the right. My right knee just tracks very poorly and pulls on my hip flexors causing massive pain. So as the others have said if the creaking and snapping don't hurt don't worry. To fix my bad tracking I exercise my inner thigh and quad (no off color jokes please) and tape my knee to keep it in line.

At 41 I have found just keeping muscles warm is key and learning how to stretch properly is helpful. Also, learning how to fall is helpful, just relax because when you go down there's nothing you can do but try to enjoy the ride.

Leslie

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Who me? Couldn't be....
http://www.youtube.com/bouldersk8r

My chiropractor says he can tell the difference as to whether I've fought a fall or not. I don't know if he can or he's just bs-in me as long as he adjusts me!

I have a congenital hip defect--my right hip (my landing leg) clicks at times and when I bend my leg up (like in the scratch spin) it "catches." I do exercises to help strengthen that joint.

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Skate@Delaware
Ah, show skating!!! I do it for the glitter!

Same thing, I only had one knee done, the other still is missing it's ACL but that's my thunder thigh leg so the muscles are holding it together. I've had multiple surgeries on the one leg (why I've never had the desire to go in for the other one ) and have a problem with scar tissue catching my kneecap. when it does, I get kneecap rubbing on bone, not pleasant. Certain skating things aggravate that so I have to watch for overuse.

Skating has been the best exercise for my knees. And keeping warm is vital!

What about stair climbing? Good, bad or neutral?

My work group is about to move up to the 2nd floor. I really struggled up and down those stairs when we worked up there in the past, my knees were agony every night.

I'm trying to be positive, and believe that the stair climbing might help my skating rather than destroying my knees and my skating.

Anyone out there use stair climbing to help their knees/muscles?

Karen

I used stair climbing as part of my post-surgery rehab once I was done with my initial PT (I stopped doing PT fairly early, after 5 weeks, because I moved across country and started a new job.)

Stair climbing with my messed up right knee is a different story for me. Something is rubbing inside and makes it very challenging to do stairs "normally". Going up stairs isn't as bad as going down stairs "normally."

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American Waltz... Once, Twice, ???? ...

Q: How many coaches does it take to fix Jen's Dance Intro-3 Problems
A: 5 and counting...

I'm not part of the "40 + creaky knee brigade", but I do have sensitive knees, so I do not use stair climbers to work out. From what I've been told they really just accelerate wear and tear on the knee joints, and I really don't need any of that.

I DO think, however, that there's a problem somewhere if your knees hurt after climbing a couple of flights of stairs. It might be a decent idea to check out a physical therapist and see if you can't get on an excercise program to manage the pain...because 46 is really not old and you shouldn't be having trouble going up stairs. Plus if you have pain from a few flights of stairs, then skating is really going to aggravate whatever is wrong with your knees to make you hurt. Physical therapists are real magicians, I hope you consider checking one out in your area.

I've been told if your knees are healthy and don't complain or ache later, then stair climbers are ok. As with any exercise, don't overdue it. You just have to listen to your body.

I don't use exercise bikes because my hip complains, although no problem with the rowing machine (and it's better for my weak upper back).

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Skate@Delaware
Ah, show skating!!! I do it for the glitter!

Karen,

My age stats: Age 50, started skating at 45 with hockey skates, started figure skating one year ago this month & I'm not looking back.

You're doing it the right way. Excersise lightly every day to regain some strength and stability. After a couple of months, Try pushing past your light work-out into something harder, but every other day or every 3 days in order to let your body rebuild. Of course, this is my opinion.

About 3-1/2 years ago I was re-tiling my bathroom and came up with a case of bursitis (shoulder muscle area....the bursis). It was so bad I was unable to lift a 1/2 gallon of milk into the fridge. I started with very light weight & rehabilitative excersises. After 3 months I stepped it up to a regular work-out. Now three years later I do a maintenance work-out & stretches every morning. It keeps me toned & feeling fit. As an extra added benefit, I eat deserts because I know I'll work them off.

So far my knees have not been a huge issue. I have bicycled most of my adult life and I think the strong muscles from that help keep my knees stabilized. You might try biking and/or a stationary indoor trainer. Use an easier setting and spin your legs faster. Try and keep your cadence up at 80 revs per minute and keep at it for 20 minutes to start & build up to at least 45 minutes. Once you get stronger at it, put in some sprints followed by recovery. You can adjust the resistance to higher levels as needed. By the way....it can get boring. If inside, play some music or something. Outside is much more entertaining, just watch out for cars & dogs.

Your legs will get stronger and your knees will have more support. Your aerobic abilities will also improve.

Good luck.

I think age is all in your head. I am a 50 plus skater who came back to the ice after 30 years off. I did skate as a kid and was on the ice 5 to 6 days a week until i was in my early teens then stopped . I never think about my age and i am now working on adult gold moves and have some of my doubles back. Adults may have fear holding them back more than any thing else. I fall all the time and i fall hard. So far i have never been hurt, yes lots of bruises but who cares. Yes my body hurts in the morning but always feels better after i skate. I now that the kids out on the ice also have aches and pains it comes with the sport! Skating keeps me in shape and i say to any adult out there the heck with age just skate your best work hard and enjoy

Start of sad biography, soft violin music plays in the background:
Three years ago I injured my right shoulder with a torn rotator cuff while sewing costumes (for my daughter's school play). Had therapy and got other exercises for my poor posture. I was 70 pounds overweight and barely able to skate (I was a wall hugger).

Last year I was rear-ended and now I suffer from whiplash and numbness in my arm. Chiropractic care is on-going. Diet also started last year when I saw myself in summer vacation photos Ewww!

I also have other health problem that whack me out and knock me out every now and again, but not as bad, now that I'm healthier!

Still going to the chiropractor, added pilates class, doing band workout (using stretchy bands as weights), lifting weights, skating, still watching what I eat (lost 65 pounds to date-gone from size 22 to size 6/8).
end of sad biographical story
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Anyway, you do what you can! When I first started skating, I was too big to do much. I was out of shape. I wasn't flexible. But, I wasn't ready to make any other changes to my lifestyle. I think the car accident changed my attitude and the caring attitude of the therapists. I also had a change of workplace. I moved out of an office where "goodies" were always being served (the supervisor was really fat), to an office where the boss ate healthy snacks, worked out, and encouraged others to care for their bodies.

I started wanting to look good, but not until I saw how big I really was in my photos from vacation did it really hit home how big I really was (I was always the one taking pics, never the one in them). What an eye opener. After being depressed about it for weeks, I did something about it. Which brings me to today.

I have limitations from my health (bad ticker, migraines, bad shoulder from the car accident) which prevent or hinder me from ever being "excellent" and I'm ok with that. I can excel within my limitations. I don't compare myself to others. I can ask for their help or help them but I can't switch places so comparison isn't relevant to me. I do the best I can with the body I have and the training I can get. That's my story and I'm sticking to it

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Skate@Delaware
Ah, show skating!!! I do it for the glitter!

At 58, fear is definitely the most limiting factor for me. I was a roller dancer as a kid, but I only started ice skating 5 years ago, and managed to break my wrist fairly quickly. My knees creak, but so do most of my other joints! I have intermittent pain in my knees, though usually not on the ice. I wear soft knee pads whenever I skate, because it is not worth the risk of injury to me to go without them. Of course, I took a nice splat on the sidewalk several weeks ago and was seriously wishing I had been wearing knees pads, wrist braces and a helmet I would love to skate with abandon as I did when a teenager, but the reality is that I don't want to be put out of commission by a broken bone or concussion, so I am more cautious than I would like to be.

On the entirely positive side of things, after I had been skating a year, I started watching my diet, and the two together resulted in a 45 pound weight loss. I was so out of shape that the first time I got on the ice, I made it half way around and had to sit down, so I have a very clear measure of my progress re fitness. The older you get, the harder and slower it is to "get it back", so you have already done the best thing you can by starting

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Woo Hoo to DBNY for the weight loss!!!

It's one of those things that gets harder as you get older.

I also fight the "fear factor" but have a nice coach that understands it!

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Skate@Delaware
Ah, show skating!!! I do it for the glitter!