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Older Americans are more active than ever. The Baby Boomer generation – typically defined as individuals born between 1946 and 1964 – are approaching retirement and have more free time. A lot of that free time is increasingly devoted to physical activity. Compared to generations of the past, the Baby Boomers are athletes. They play sports, cycle, run, ski, and swim. And while all this activity has tremendous health and psychological benefits, there is an understandable wear and tear on the body that occurs.

Baby Boomers, while often healthier than their predecessors, are making more trips to orthopedic surgeons, dealing with eroded joints and sore muscles. As we age, our cartilage softens and muscle mass decreases. The Mayo Clinic March newsletter describes this physical decline as the “Achilles’ heel of a fit generation.” But it looks like these health concerns aren’t slowing Baby Boomers down. In fact, they are investing more than ever in their bodies so they can prolong their active lifestyle.

There are several options for active Baby Boomers, looking to get more from their aging bodies. Strength training is the best preventative measure a Baby Boomer can take. Strategic weight lifting can replace diminished muscle mass and prevent ligament erosion. Physicians also recommend increasing flexibility and range of motion, which can reduce the likelihood of sports injury. If possible, replace high impact sports with low-impact ones, such as swimming and biking. Depending on the sport, supportive braces can help stabilize joints and ligaments that undergo a lot of repetitive movement.

For example, soccer players, skiers and runners frequently experience knee issues. A hinged knee brace might make the difference between invasive surgery and three more years of sports participation. Tennis players, on the other hand, experience elbow issues and might consider a soft elbow brace to provide support and pressure during matches. The good news is, Orthopedic braces have come a long way since their inception in the 1780′s. Many utilize state-of-the-art engineering and materials, making the brace a comfortable, near-extension of the human body.

Medical experts agree while physical injury is a risk; everyone at every age should strive for high levels of fitness. Not only does it prolong life, but it improves memory, guards against depression, and is just plain fun!

77.3 Million Baby Boomers must reinvent themselves in the last third of their lives. Ages 45-65 are watching the generation time clock keep on ticking.

Boomers are dissecting their financial fears, job frustrations, retirement options and lifestyle changes. There will soon be a new wave of retires wondering what their going to do when they grow up. Many boomers are seriously wondering what’s in stored for them in their ” Golden Years”. Their nest eggs have severely dwindled along with their 401k retirement plan, being hit by the stock market, skyrocketing health care costs, as well as their concerns of the higher prices for consumer goods, and commodities, that continue to effect the economy.

In the past 5 years, 40 percent of Boomer households have had someone lose a job and finding it harder and harder to find a new job that paid the salary that they were accustomed to making. And some find their skills are out dated and rusty compared with a 20-30 year old applying for the same job.

Nearly one in six households have a home whose market value is below it’s mortgage balance and they can’t sell their homes; nor do they want to. Nearly one in six boomers had a stay in the hospital. The financial woes have also lead to mental anguish and stress. The thought of bankruptcy for boomers was never a concern, now it’s more like a blessing.

Baby boomers were once considered to be born in the “Wealthiest Generation” They made more money than any other generation so far in U.S. history. They were the first generation where the two income household was unfortunately a necessary. Boomers had a higher level of education which aloud them to capitalize on economic changes and technology. They were goal oriented, dedicated and career focused.

Boomers lived through the greatest and longest period of economic prosperity, however now so many affluent baby boomers are now financially unprepared and feel trapped in a sea of economic uncertainty. They are now doing less with less money mostly out of fear of the worsening economy. They’re postponing retirement, contributing less to the church and charities, they’re passing on their yearly vacation, and basically downsizing their lifestyle.