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Training principles for elite senior athletes

  • Published:
Current Sports Medicine Reports

Abstract

Despite the passage of time, masters athletes are still capable of incredible performances. Nevertheless, overuse injuries are the most common challenge in this escalating cohort. The incidence of exertion-related cardiovascular events is also greater among older athletes, especially men, highlighting the importance of a thorough preparticipation medical evaluation before entry into senior athletic training programs and competition. Accordingly, masters athletes with a moderate to high risk for coronary artery disease, who desire to enter vigorous competitive events, should undergo peak or symptom-limited exercise testing. Training programs for senior athletes should be individually tailored and focus on the predominant energy pathways and performance requirements for a given sport. Although competition and "personal bests" are important, protection against sickness and disability are increasingly listed as the primary participative motives of older athletes.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Beaumont Health Center, Preventive Cardiology, 4949 Coolidge Highway, 48073, Royal Oak, MI, USA

    Barry A. Franklin PhD

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  1. Barry A. Franklin PhD
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  2. Angela Fern MS
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  3. John Voytas MD
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Franklin, B.A., Fern, A. & Voytas, J. Training principles for elite senior athletes. Curr Sports Med Rep 3, 173–179 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11932-004-0069-y

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