training older athletes

What type of info on training older athletes and what type of athletes are they? Are they athletes or older population training? As for portable VO2 max, bleep test and cooper test are highly correlated to VO2 max but are field tests. Or sub maximal tests like step tests, cycle tests. Depends on what you want to achieve and hoe accurate you want the tests.

Thanks for your reply, I have a diverse range of clients, but I guess my problem lies with the guys that do and have been competing for a long time. Old injuries, dealing with rehab, how hard to push them, that sort of stuff. My biggest concern is trying to keep these old die hards safe from themselves. At the moment I have an older javlin thrower who is trying to get back in shape for the masters games. He is 44 unfit, over weight and impatient.

Oi!!! PUP less of the old at 44 :evil: I'm pasted that bench mark and still improving on my training and knowledge. :wink:

I can still train as hard as ever but I find it takes slightly longer to recover, so I just train smarter by keeping my eye on over training symptoms.

The hard part will be keeping them from over doing it, I tell all my "oldens" and the oldest at the moment is 94, its all about "the tortoise and hare" I have seen some incredible "mature people," marathons on retirement etc.

Remember the not quite as wrinkled may well have a little more time on their hands to train (kids growing up etc) and they want to catch up on lost time, that's why they want to go hell for leather, I try to involve them in the learning cycle as well.

Hope this helps some.

Have a good un, Cheers John (not quite as wrinkled0 Murphy :wink:

When I say old die hards, :oops: I also include myself (42 in Oct) I retired from competetive boxing and figure bodybuilding at 35. since then I've been studying hard to work from the other side. I myself have been guilty of going too hard and dealing with the outcome. Something I try to avoid with my clients. So if any one knows of any good books etc. on mature athletes, I'd be greatfull for any information. :)
Thanks for your replies, I ment no offence with the old comments, my eldest client is 84 years young.

Ozsue, no offense taken at all, I was pulling your leg, it's great being slightly older than you and seeing the kids (anyone below 40) off in the gym. :D

I think sometimes the older generation thinks time is running out, (which it may very well be) and they then go to hard, afraid to admit the body is not quite as young as it used to be? :shock:

I just keep on talking to my "die hards" well shouting sometimes, as I said "tortiose and hare"

Good luck and keep posting especially if you do come up with an answer.

Have a good un, cheers Spud :wink:

The most accurate non-lab based test I have come across is the MAF test. Check out Phillip Maffetone's work. Good place to start is the book Everyone's an athlete by Dr. Maffetone. He was the coach to triathlete great Mark Allen (won Hawaii Ironman last time at age 37) and Mike Pig.

I use the MAF test with the Cyclists, Boxers, Footy players, runners etc... that I work with. It is easy to perform so you can teach them to do it themselves and it is extremely accurate. I have found it is the most sensitive test around for over training, illness, possible leadup to injury as well as monitoring anaerobic/aerobic function. It will take maybe half an hour to teach them how to do it and then they can send you all the data via email. You don't even need to be there.

There are many variations of it to check specifically for sympathetic dominance/parasympathetic underrunning (signs of over training and often underlying illness). Get a hold of his book, much easier than me trying to explain it from here.