MF

Nov 21 - Sport, Health, Age

Sport and Health

Overview

  • Instructor: Nicole Lee

  • Course: Kine 2079

  • Date: November 21, 2024

Key Questions

  • Under what conditions is sport healthy or unhealthy?

  • For whom are these conditions relevant?

  • Who faces the most risk regarding health in competitive sport?

  • Can sport be modified to ensure health for all participants?

  • Are we willing to make these changes?

The Body as a Machine

  • Concept of bodies as machines designed for optimal athletic performance.

  • Risks may be minimized or neglected in pursuit of performance.

The Reality of Competitive Sports

  • Competitive sports can hurt and damage bodies.

  • Issues arise from long training hours and necessary sacrifices.

  • Athletes often convince themselves they can recover later ("It’s a short season, I have all year to recover if needed").

Healthism

  • Definition: The concept reflects various factors impacting health, including:

    • Income

    • Employment

    • Education

    • Childhood experiences

    • Access to health services

    • Race and gender

    • Genetics

The Culture of Risk

  • Acceptance of pain and injury as marks of strength.

  • Phrase "No pain, no gain" illustrates this cultural belief.

  • Positive deviance: Pushing through pain is culturally honored.

Medicine in Sports

  • Contrast between general medical practice and that within competitive leagues (e.g., NFL).

  • Pressure for athletes to play through pain leads to medical compromises and short-term solutions.

Age and Ability

Misconceptions About Age

  • People over 40 are often advised against vigorous activities.

  • Those with impairments are frequently marginalized in sports.

Ageism

  • Discrimination against older age groups based on stereotypes of incapacity.

  • Alters relationships with older individuals, denying their abilities.

Age and Sport

  • Global sports culture favors youthfulness; little representation of older athletes.

  • Older athletes only gain attention for exceptional achievements.

Age Segregated Sports

  • Older individuals often prefer age-segregated sports.

  • Growth of "masters" level competitions supported by IOC and IPC.

  • These competitions focus on health benefits of lifelong participation.

Preferences in Later Life Sports

  • Older athletes acknowledge performance decline yet still enjoy competition.

  • Increasing trend toward lifestyle sports that emphasize social experiences and moderate challenges.

Celebrating Older Athletes

  • Example of a former junior champion returning to competitive skating at an older age.

References

  • Scherer, J., & Wilson, B. (2020). Sport and Physical Culture in Canadian Society (2nd ed.). Pearson.