30 Sep 2010
Be it running a marathon at 78 or doing a vertical marathon at 83, growing older has not deterred some from intense sport.
Come Nov 21, Mr Tan Soo Cheng (inset), 83, will scale the 73 stories of Swissotel The Stamford, the tallest hotel in South-east Asia. He has been participating in this vertical marathon for the past nine years.
"I have been running regularly since I was young, so not much effort is required for this," he said.
The retired accountant has been running two hours every day since his 30s.
"People ask me how I can jog every day and not have knee problems at my age but I tell them the secrets are in the shoes and the way I run," he said.
He buys shoes meant specifically for running and makes sure there is a gentle rhythm to his running steps instead of stomping around, he explained.
He has no major health conditions but was diagnosed with mild hypertension three years ago. It is now under control with medication.
Still, he exercises caution while running.
"If I don't feel good, I stop. I won't force myself to keep going," he said.
Mr Tan is one of the growing number of elderly daredevils here in Singapore – seniors who participate in vigorous sport like marathons and rock climbing.
Dr Roger Tian, a sports physician and associate consultant at the Singapore Sports Medicine Centre and Changi Sports Medicine Centre, estimates that there has been a 10 per cent increase in the number of seniors aged 65 years and above participating in such vigorous sports in the last five years.
This trend may be due to an increased awareness of the benefits of regular exercise. Seniors now also have more chances of participating in intensive sport as more of such events are being organised here, he said.
Benefits of regular exercise, including intensive sport, can reduce one's risk of high blood pressure and heart problems. Muscles and bones are kept healthy, reducing the risks of fractures and falls, he said.
However, seniors should be medically cleared before they begin any vigorous sport, he said.
They face a higher risk of injury because the higher intensity of such sport places more demands on the body, said Dr Tian.
However, those who led an active life when they were younger are better equipped to handle higher intensity exercises as they age, he said.
Dr Lim Si Ching, a consultant at the department of geriatric medicine at the Singapore General Hospital said that those who have uncontrolled hypertension, heart failure and chest pains should refrain from vigorous sport.
Associate Professor Tan Huay Cheem, the director of the National University Heart Centre, Singapore, said people who have had heart attacks should ideally not engage in such vigorous activities, especially if one is unaccustomed to the intensity.
And it is wise to be careful, as heart attacks are the major cause of sudden deaths in the elderly who participate in vigorous exercise, cautioned Dr Tian.
Dr Lim said that seniors should be on the alert for symptoms like chest pains that radiate to the arms and jaws, accompanied by nausea, dizziness or difficulty in breathing while exercising as these may signal a heart attack.
Apart from heart problems, seniors may face the risk of injuring their joints – which weaken with age.
While running, the impact felt on one's joints is about two to five times of one's body weight.
Extra weight on a sedentary senior would deepen this impact, said Dr Tian.
Without proper preparation and training, there is a high risk of joint injury, he said.
"Seniors should be medically cleared before they begin any vigorous sport... The higher intensity of such sport places more demands on the body.
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Dept Of Geriatric Medicine
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