2019 - 2020 Far West Skier's Guide - 64-24

Changes... Challenges...
Richard Lubin, D.C.

The Snowboarding Chiropractor, Safety Chair, FWSA

"Let us never know what old age is.
Let us know the happiness time brings, not count the years." - Ausonius
Some say time marches on. Well, I say it skis
on. Indeed, members of the Far West Ski Association are generally a sophisticated and mature
group of skiers and snowboarders. This article is
about the age old challenge, or the challenge of
growing older.
I'm sure we've all met people who ski
adroitly well into their later years. I've met Alex
Cushing (Squaw Valley) and Dave McCoy (Mammoth Mountain) in the mountains, and they
were excited, enthusiastic, distinguished individuals in their 80's and were still terrific competent skiers. Great activities keep us positive
and healthy. We all want to ski as long as possible
and as long as we enjoy it.

x-rays, for example, in the side view, these
changes are readily apparent. The pads between
your vertebrae, or intervertebral disks shrink and
dehydrate. The knee cartilage and menisci can
also degenerate. This is why we get shorter as we
age. When young, the disc comprises up to one
third the length of the spine. A number of characteristic changes manifest like extra bone in
stress areas (spurs).

"The point of skiing is
to go gracefully downhill. The point
of a healthy life is to not go downhill,
but live gracefully."
Lubin, FWSA

Going Downhill
As we age, indeed, there are going to be inevitable changes. These characteristic aging changes are referred to as senescence. We know these
changes well. Things like wrinkles, gray hair,
muscle loss and slumping posture are all familiar.
Changes on the outside might be most apparent,
but the internal changes play largely into
the challenges of aging. These metamorphoses
occur at varying rates in different individuals
based on a multitude of factors. These include genetics, how well you have cared for yourself, environmental factors, and injuries. Therefore,
safety, indeed plays a role in aging.
Some of the most common changes are
musculoskeletal. This includes bone and joint
changes which follow predictable age markers. If
you have had individual or multiple accidents or
other maladies, that progression is more rapid.
Knee injuries are common among skiers and
other athletes alike. DJD or Degerative Joint Disease affects everyone. When looking at spinal

Water is what we ski on. Isn't it a cruel fate,
that the loss of water helps make the discs shrink
and get stiff. The spine, like other joints, have
smooth, healthy cartilage when we are young.
With age, injuries, and some diseases, this important tissue becomes degraded, performs poorly
and causes pain. Other musculoskeletal changes
include atrophy of muscles and strength.
Ever notice a silhouette of someone walking.
I'll bet you can guess their age range by the posture and bounce in their step. Watch skiers and
boarders and you will note some of these same
changes in their motion dynamics. Younger participants are better at defying gravity. With snowboarders, the fall and bounce back up is easier
with younger participants.
The nervous system experiences many
changes with age. Our reaction time can suffer,
and we know how important quick changes can
be when going downhill. This also includes things
like reduced vision. Safety is, indeed, the ability to

respond quickly to many changes like terrain
variations, lighting, bumps, and avoiding other
obstacles, as well as, people. Additionally, there
are a multitude of conditions which manifest
with age. Blood sugar issues, cancer, lung, heart
and circulatory problems are just a few things
that also can influence your participation. The
high UV light at ski areas can contribute to skin
cancer and cataracts.
So is this planet trying to keep us down...
from getting down the hill? We don't want downhill skiing to be an uphill battle. I call this decreased athletic capacity "ski senescence".
OK! That was the bad news. I'm sorry if I
made anyone feel bad. I know some of you are
rubbing sore body parts right now. Rub on, I
mean read on . . . .

Good News
Physiological realities associated with advancing age can be distressing, but now for some
positives.
People are living longer and longer; and
with better health. Ski equipment is better than
ever - making it easier to ski. Many conditions
which used to debilitate people can now be
treated and effectively improved. Think about
how many people have benefitted from joint replacements and other common surgeries. Remember that in your recent lives how knee and
hip problems meant the end of your ski career.
Joint replacements are continuing to get more refined. Arthroscopic and other less invasive procedures are amazing. New treatments and bracing
can really help. And, nutrition can really help optimize your health and vitality.
Many of the health issues noted above are
co-morbid, meaning occurring together. Improv-

Get Prepared for the New Ski Season
Some of North America's ski resorts are now open and the rest
will be opening their lifts very soon. It is an exciting time for both
skiers and boarders to head to the slopes. Are you prepared? Since
it has been months since most of us have been on the snow, it really
pays to get your body in shape before you use that first lift ticket.
Afterall, getting in shape prior to opening day or that long awaited
ski trip helps ensure that your time on the slopes is fun, safe and injury free. It is best to begin a fitness program in late summer or
early fall - long before getting those skis and boards out of storage.
Skiing can be exhausting if your body is not conditioned.

Build up your endurance if you plan to ski all day. Most injuries
and accidents occur when the body is tired. For several weeks prior
to your first ski day, include at least 3-5 days of a cardiac workout.
Run, use a stairclimber, an elliptical trainer or any other activity that
get your heart rate up and works muscles throughout the entire body.
Include shorter activities lasting from 20-45 minutes, as well as, an
hour or longer activity to condition legs and lungs to prepare for long
days on the slopes. If consistent exercising has not been part of your
existing daily schedule, you should start with a beginning workout program to build up your endurance.

64 - 24 Far West Skier's Guide 2O19 - 2O2O / Digital Edition Insert

2019 - 2020 Far West Skier's Guide

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of 2019 - 2020 Far West Skier's Guide