LEC23: Masters Athletes

Question 1

What are common elements amongst all masters athletes?

Answer 1

1. All want to perform
2. All have a training goal
3. All must be old enough to be a masters athlete
4. All want to compete
5. All have a game plan

Question 2

What does a masters athlete means?

Answer 2

Masters athletes means different things to different people. The term is usually used to describe older active individuals - individuals who are more than 35 years old, participate in sports or events specifically

Question 3

A masters athlete is set apart from just a healthy aging adult if they…

Answer 3

1. Sport (provincial/national) associations figure you are a Master Athlete as long as you register and train with a recognized club
2. Coaching Association of Canada says a masters athlete as those who qualify for their age threshold as well as those who have decided they want a coach

Question 4

Summary: Master’s athlete characterization

Answer 4

Older individuals of varying ages (whom meet some sort of pre-defined age) whom love sport and/or competition might seek coaching advice for skill and training advice who register with a group or club and possess a wide range of performance abilities, varied health attributes and divergent levels of camaraderie

Question 5

Improved longevity for masters athletes due to what?

Answer 5

1. Due to weekly caloric expenditure due to physical activity
2. Due to more of the physical activity being vigorous

Question 6

Reduced age-related decline in physiological capacity and instrumental activities of daily living

Answer 6

1. Due to habitual/regular exercise
2. Due to types of activities which have beneficial effect on aging

Question 7

Things to think about when working with Master’s Athletes

Answer 7

1. Understand a more comprehensive screening process (musculoskeletal, cardiac)
2. Understand age-related injury risk (in their sport, personal history, spending more time on prehab/rehab)
3. Understand their baseline fitness/capacities: direct and indirect aging-related declines (increased range of capacities, lowered capacities means you have to really watch overload/progression, loss of movement fundamentals such as balance, agility, gait)
4. Spend more time managing their personality and expectations
5. Be aware of the benefits and drawbacks of social dynamics for masters athletes
6. Remember that masters athletes need more recovery than younger athletes

Question 8

Neuromuscular strengthening and balance exercises

Answer 8

1. Ankle strengthening
2. Toe grabs
3. Foot doming
4. Single-leg bridging
5. Balance on unstable/stable surface
6. Romanian deadlift
7. Nordic curls
8. Single leg squats

Question 9

How can we spend more time managing masters athletes personality and expectations?

Answer 9

Personalities
- Stand firm with Type A personalities (X actually equals XX to them)
- Be encouraging with those who are less confident

Expectations
- Use evidence to manage unrealistic expectations
- Acknowledge their opinion
- Provide a program that delivers on feeling validated

Question 10

What can we take into consideration when working with masters athletes in a social dynamic?

Answer 10

Training with others can be a very positive motivator
BUT
Training with a group can also lead to unrealistic expectations/feeling of negativity (for less fit people)

Question 11

What should we consider with masters athletes and recovery?

Answer 11

Because they:
1. Can incur more damage and fatigue for the same workout as a younger person
2. Even if no additional damage recovery process is slower

Question 12

What is the definition of a super elite?

Answer 12

Championship winners in their youth/adult years

Good genetics, good work capacity, years of training (specific fitness)

Health risk: bad in terms of CVD and MSK

Question 13

What is the definition of an elite?

Answer 13

Never full-time athlete (but maybe could have been) and impressive athlete success despite job/career and world class

Good genetics, good work capacity, years of training (specific fitness)
BUT less years of training than the super elites

Health risk: good and bad in terms of CVD and MSK

Question 14

What is the definition of a sub-elite?

Answer 14

Later in life (re-) adopters of competitive sports, competitive on international level (i.e. World Masters)

Good genetics, good work capacity, years of training (specific fitness)
BUT less compared to super elites

Health risk: good in terms of CVD, good and bad in terms of MSK

Question 15

What is the definition of a well-trained masters athletes

Answer 15

Atypical aging profile, enjoy the competitive and social aspects of sport, seek coaching, want to perform

Highly variable in terms of genetics, better than age-matched healthy active adults for work capacity (but worse than elites), variable in terms of years of training

Health risk: good in terms of CVD, good and bad in terms of MSK

Question 16

What is the definition of transformative?

Answer 16

Sport and competition improved their lives… enjoy the morale-building aspects of having a goal… will take any advice, just want to finish

Below average to average genetics, sedentary to healthy active work capacity, zero to some years of training

Health risk: good for CVD and MSK (depending on level of sedentary behaviour