Do sports played over a lifetime help us live longer?

Liam reminds me smiles lead to
longer lives

Tennis anyone?

 Gretchen Reynolds writing for the NYT health reports on recent studies looking at common sport actives people may do throughout their lives. These sports include "cycling, swimming, running, tennis, soccer and, perhaps unexpectedly, badminton." How do these activities compare with the lifestyle of sedimentary living? The study was done in Denmark, England and Mayo Clinic. It involved 8600 people, in Britain 80,000 men and Mayo Clinic looked at both studies with their own on jogging and racket sports. Information collected over 25 years. 

Before I show you what they reported I think it is fair to think the lifestyle of a person who involves sports that involve social connections that differ from a person who does solitary sports like jogging, swimming, cycling. People who continue a consistent program of fitness will be different from those who are more sedimentary. When somebody becomes sedimentary may be a factor as well. 

For example in my own case walking and sports that I did when I was young gave me benefits I have experienced all my life. Playing tennis and racketball into my 40's and developing the habit of hiking and walking with Barb has helped me in my 50's and 60's. The challenges I now face will determine my 70's and beyond. (Thinking positive here)

The numbers below are compared to those who are sedimentary. 

Sport	Years gained
Cycling	3.7 years
Running	3.2 years
Tennis	9.7 years
Badminton	6.2 years
Soccer	5 years

Do people participating in sports through out life also have more money and resources for health? Is a

Playing for GRSBM 1979

question raised in the article. There may be many reasons connected with these activities that make a difference. The researchers consistently thought social connection may favor team sports. The article ends with the following quote, “Raising your heart rate is important” for health, he says. “But it looks like connecting with other people is, too.”

There are many studies that refer to the benefits of social contacts and health. I played, coached tennis for a long time. Right now I don't see myself returning to the courts. Competitive sports will change as we age. Injuries, joints, and fitness all weigh in for me. I had to change my activities. 

Longevity matters when wee talk about a lifetime. When we get older I think the shift changes to daily living. If you are under 50 I think you can change your life span. Changes we make when we are older matter too. If not why should I take the time to share these things. The shift to day by day has it's value too. "Teach us to number our days carefully so that we may develop wisdom in our hearts." ps. 90:12 

Does cycling help me today? Will it make tomorrow a little bit better. Can I find and do activities that create interest and movement? The biggest underlying idea for me is can I build new friendships and stimulate old ones? Keep walking

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/05/well/move/the-best-sport-for-a-longer-life-try-tennis.html?action=click&module=Associated&pgtype=Article&region=Footer&contentCollection=Phys%20Ed

https://www.mayoclinicproceedings.org/article/S0025-6196(18)30538-X/fulltext

behind every step of health is faith

I am continuing to reach my goals of 150 or more minutes of exercise. This week biked 3 times with  Spin classes and once walking the dog, a pace like a walk just to get the heart pumping. Almost 40 minutes of strength training and back to short walks. I can see this helping me to move through out my day. 
The garden is in full swing with the rains reviving the beans for another harvest. Getting veggies for now and later this winter helps with making meals that much better. 
Sometimes we find ourselves in times of trouble
In Psalms 46:1 "God is our refuge and strength, a helper who is always found in times of trouble.", has been a comfort to many. When you look at verses 2, 3, 6, 10 you will see real things to be afraid of.  Troubles never really cease. We respond better with thoughts and hope, love and faith our bodies actually work better through the stress of trouble.
God is
refuge
strength
helper
when we need it. keep walking

Progress continues, stretching helps growing research

1st week in barely made my goal with 154 minutes. I needed more time to recover from inflamation. This week I feel better. Today I did a 30 minute spin class with two sets of band resistance.

I read an article on the benefits of increased flexibility with age. First article is from the Washington Post, the first link below. The other links were given in the Post's article. The second article is from Mayo Clinic suggests these benefits:

"Stretching can help improve flexibility, and, consequently, range of motion about your joints. Better flexibility may:

• Improve your performance in physical activities
• Decrease your risk of injuries
• Help your joints move through their full range of motion
• Enable your muscles to work most effectively

Stretching also increases blood flow to the muscle"

The third article reveals stretching your calf muscles 4 weeks can improve blood flow 3.5-5%. My calf muscles are effected by my CP and directly hinders blood flow back to the heart. I have noticed indoor biking helps. Stretching I have noticed helps, American Heart Society supported what I suspected.  Below is a link to basic stretches from Mayo Clinic. 

I have previously shared how flexibility has to be part of our senior fitness program. Keep walking

https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/now-were-finding-out-you-should-do-two-kinds-of-stretching-slow-and-vigorous/2018/08/31/cd256266-9047-11e8-bcd5-9d911c784c38_story.html?utm_term=.cf993fbf46fa&wpisrc=nl_lean&wpmm=1
https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/fitness/in-depth/stretching/art-20047931
https://med.fsu.edu/uploads/files/Newspubs/Print/Calf%20stretching%20may%20benefit%20peripheral%20artery%20disease%20patients%20_%20Patient%20Daily.pdf
https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/fitness/multimedia/stretching/sls-20076840

Pain is a tough door to walk through.

AARP writer Patrick Kiger reported in July Chronic Pain Afflicts Most older Adults in a Harris poll survey Of 2,011 adults. 20% of those age 55-64 and 25% of those 65 and older have given up on were compelled to give up some activity they loved to do because of pain. 57% of those 55-64 deal with chronic pain and 64% of those 65 and older deal with chronic pain. 85% and 88% of each group find some way to deal with pain.
Giving up activities I think come as we age. Some activities would be more friendly as we age. Rugby, boxing, American football would have an earlier retirement from the sport. Workouts once did may stay with us a little longer. I think activities can be replaced or modified. Pain though is a reality. Moving forward changes have to part of the strategy.
We try medicine, physical therapy, chiropractics, yoga. The 20-25% of older people who give up probably have tried these things and pain remains. That can be discouraging. For others these strategies help us continue.
Today I did what my heart doctor wants me to do more often. Watch TV and just bike. There is a

Au. 26 week

benefit of getting distracted, before you know it you have moved past your daily goal.
This week I took a few days off. My bruising got a little worse. I am still bleeding in my joint. Inflammation improved, back on the bike. Each time it took time before pain eased as I warmed up and fluid moving into the joints. Easier levels but choosing to engage in an increased pace.
Strength training minutes were added during the week. Toward the end of the week I did more short walks.
Pain is real and it does affect us. I think of my grandson with a disability walking through doors and increasing his experience and success. This lovely fellow gives me motivation to move through my doors. I have never have been as sweet as him, but I remember many of the doors I had to walk through or at times fight. Have you ever fought a fight you knew you would lose? The fight has to happen and if you can make it painful enough for the winner, would be less likely to do it again. My application was facing bullies who liked to attack crippled kids. I always surprised these bums. There is a fear to it though.

When I came to faith in Jesus as my Savior, I liked the thought
"Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear not evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me." Ps. 23:4 Death carries a bigger shadow then the bullies I faced as a kid. Pain is part of this shadow. The rod and staff are part of the same truth of God's protection.
For years I was taught how God uses these tools "rod and staff" in discipline. But over time I rethought the verse. Evil desires to destroy us, those tools fights off thugs, robbers and murderers seeking to harm or kill. We certainly need still waters and pastors for restoration and healing. How ever we have pain we can use, medicine, therapy, good food, exercise that makes sense for us. We can walk through the doors we are afraid of. In the big picture we need the Lord to be with us. Keep walking.