Should I stay or should I go?

[Relentless]

Hi Rip

As I am now what is known as an older lifter , 55Yrs I am perhaps more concerned about preseverving myself than when young. However I continue to get a great kick out of training.

I have been using the Texas Method as detailed in PPST, and have been surprised and delighted with the strength gains I have managed, even though it is one or two pounds per week it is progress.

My question concerns joint health. I have read of lifters switch training protocols, or give up completely , complaing that heavy lifting is destroying their joints. In my own case I am progressing with weight, but obviously don't want to discver down the road that this is at the expense of my joint integrity.

In your opinion should an older lifter stay with the idea of continually pushing for heavier weights or go with maybe higher reps with a view to lessening the impact on joints..........or do you believe joints can "Keep Up" with strength gains, even in the older lifter?

I do appreciate your time...

[Mark Rippetoe]

Are your joints hurting?

[Relentless]

Well, around the shoulders they are clicking and popping on occasion, and this is the dilema, do a 55 year olds shoulders do this with or without training
, or is the heavy (relatively) lifting exacerbating a potential issue, or helping the joint strength?

[TomF]

I did a first serious crack at a novice progression when I was 45. After a few weeks my joints hurt from the effort, unused to all the demands. I started using a fair bit of ibuprophen to sleep at night (what Rip's elsewhere called "vitamin I").

A few enforced weeks away on renovation progjects, and a reset in weight and intensity, and I found that my joints had caught up. Though I've trained as hard since, I haven't had the same issues with joint pain. Whatever the initial adaptation was, it seems to have been sufficient to keep the progress I've made since from hurting my joints the same way. my primary limiting factor now seems to be recovery time for the muscles.

[Mark Rippetoe]

Noisy joints are not injured joints. Your experience counts here, you know. Has your training been hurting your joints?

[Relentless]

Rip, with your indulgence;
If I have a car and I want to get more power from it I may do any number of things to up the horsepower (Texas Method) I may drive my car hard and enjoy the additional performance. However unknown to me deep inside the engine there is a major issue developing with a crank shaft bearing (Joint function) I hear a little noise coming from the engine but I ignore it and continue to drive my car hard, until one day the engine blows up. Obviously a car is not organic, but the general premise is behind my original question concerning the joints "Keeping Up" with gains in strength.
My joints do not currently cause me pain as such, and the first sentence of your response gives me some confidence. However I appreciate I may be posing an unanswerable conundrum. (TomF thanks for your input)

[Mark Rippetoe]

There is the risk of injury when training hard enough to get very strong. The risk may be greater in older populations. I hurt when I train. But the alternative is not acceptable to me. If you are afraid of this, please change your user name.

[JWarkala]

Mr. Relentless,
I am 55 years old also and 6 weeks post-op today from having my hip resurfaced. Just got cleared to do upper body work using cable machines, some body weight exercise such as push ups and pull ups, and some light KB work. Not much but at least it's something. I have to admit that the 6 weeks of forced rest has made all my joints feel better and given a lot of aches a chance to heal.

Point is, you're aging, shit is gonna wear out whether you use or not. I can't count the number of sedentary couch/desk bound folks that were getting total hip replacements when I was in the hospital.

Unfortunately, I still have to wait 3 months before I can start doing the big lifts again. But I can guaran-fucking-tee that on April 14, 2010, I'll be squatting, pressing and DL. I'm sure a lot lighter at first and definitely smarter (Starting Strength at square one) but as Mark says, the alternative is unacceptable.

[Bif]

There is the risk of injury when training hard enough to get very strong. The risk may be greater in older populations.

Relentless,

This quote hits the nail on the head. Without an element of risk, what can be the reward?

Then this:

...I hurt when I train. But the alternative is not acceptable to me. If you are afraid of this, please change your user name.

I just turned 54, and have been lifting for many years. I have no intention of EVER stopping. In fact, because I have a home setup and access is easy (4:30 am! ), I have started lifting MORE frequently -- 5 or 6 days a week. Further, as long as I'm physically capapble of doing so, I am always trying to get stronger. There is always more weight, so there is always a challenge to meet. I look at that weight in the corner of my cellar; it sneers at me; it laughs at me; it mocks me. I am determined to wipe the smug off it's grimy face. That's why I lift. It makes sense to me; I don't give a fig if anyone else understands. As long as I'm feeling relatively well, the battle will continue.

Were it to come to this:

..go with maybe higher reps with a view to lessening the impact on joints..........

I do believe I would take up aerobic cross-stitching.

I suppose it may help you to define your goals. For me the goal is to beat the weight; that's reward enough. There's nothing wrong with doing physical stuff like weight training to "maintain condition", if that's what you want. Knowing this will allow you train in the most effective manner to achieve your goal. Get the goal, form the plan.

Best of luck...

~ bif ~

[Relentless]

Rip, I have prolapsed 2 discs in my low back, had golfers elbow in both arms, separated a shoulder, and broken my tibia in 3 places. The legbreak caused my lower leg to heal slightly out of alignment which in turn has caised a meniscus tear compounded by a meniscul cyst. I'm not afraid to hurt........ I do continue to train heavy, including squats.
I apologise if perhaps my question was not clear, you give your time for free and it is appreciated. I was merely trying to find out if, in your opinion and leaving aside the pain issue , joint robustness can keep pace with general strength gains....