Am I mad to even think about it?

[Old jon]

Damn. I used to climb. Talking to a mate from those days this evening. Old man wishful thinking.

 

[craigwend]

I remember when I used to play badminton and practice martial arts at the same time(not literally), I got more injuries with badminton by over stretching / being competitive... As someone noted doubles may be a good start / compromise

 

[clid61]

Get in a squash court , on your own ! Have a knock about for a couple of half an hour and see how the limbs feel then take it from there , then maybe badminton may seem more appealling as a workout

 

[Dave7]

I will have to be careful because I do seem to have a bit of a weakness in tendons/ligaments. In the last 12 years I have had torn rotator cuff, ACL, MCL, Achilles Tendon, and ruptured quadriceps tendon. They heal, so not the end of the world, but all entail a long layoff.

My weakness was my back caused by a lifting incident when I was 20.
As I said previously I used to play league squash and run a lot (up to half marathon) but was constantly in trouble with the back.
Once, while in hospital with it, I well recall the specialist saying "you have to face the fact that you are likely to end up in a wheelchair".
Others have correctly said......sport could extend your life. Maybe.....but at what cost?
Find another sport that hasn't got the same risk.
For me it was walking and cycling.

 

[Rusty Nails]

I've made up my mind to give it a go in January (I've even dug out my old racquets from the loft). I will take it easy and if, after a few weeks, I am struggling with the old problems will call it a day. I do not want to harm my enjoyment of cycling.

I will report back in a couple of months.

Thanks for all the advice.

 

[mudsticks]

I've made up my mind to give it a go in January (I've even dug out my old racquets from the loft). I will take it easy and if, after a few weeks, I am struggling with the old problems will call it a day. I do not want to harm my enjoyment of cycling.

I will report back in a couple of months.

Thanks for all the advice.

Good luck - you only live once - etc etc.

But i'd say also take up a regular pilates or yoga class as well, if you haven't already - that will help you stay stronger and more flexible to minimise risk of badminton injury.

 

[Dave7]

As @mudsticks says..... get the old body in shape and (as I am sure you realise) plenty of stretching before and after the game.
Enjoy it.

 

[Sharky]

Definitely go for it, but 3 mornings a week is a huge commitment. My preference is for table tennis and find it fits in with cycling really well. TT's in the summer months and TT in the winter months, playing in local leagues. In both sports there are many who take part in their 60's & 70's and all look better for it.

 

[SpokeyDokey]

"with my history of tendon and ligament injuries and the metal plate in my neck,"

Check with GP or other Med' Pro' first (maybe you have?) as none of us on here can really advise without the full details of those conditions.

Re; wife. I believe in doing your own thing in a relationship but I try to avoid unnecessary worry to Lovely Wife. I used to climb and scramble (unroped climbing) with the latter in the higher grades. The latter doesn't go down well these days on the home front so I have backed off and keep to moderate grades these days plus I have also stopped my solo activities in the mountains unless it is straight-forward hiking. I'm happy with that and so is she. Love & life - full of compromises!

 

[mudsticks]

"with my history of tendon and ligament injuries and the metal plate in my neck,"

Check with GP or other Med' Pro' first (maybe you have?) as none of us on here can really advise without the full details of those conditions.

Re; wife. I believe in doing your own thing in a relationship but I try to avoid unnecessary worry to Lovely Wife. I used to climb and scramble (unroped climbing) with the latter in the higher grades. The latter doesn't go down well these days on the home front so I have backed off and keep to moderate grades these days plus I have also stopped my solo activities in the mountains unless it is straight-forward hiking. I'm happy with that and so is she. Love & life - full of compromises!

It's always a tricky one balancing freedom with responsibility.

But you do have to consider the stress, bother, and expense you can cause to others, both at home, and more generally, by persuing your own entertainments.

If it all goes tits up ..

 

[jefmcg]

For me it was walking and cycling.

Better than sedentary, but not as good as tennis or badminton:

Multivariable-adjusted life expectancy gains compared with the sedentary group for different sports were as follows: tennis, 9.7 years; badminton, 6.2 years; soccer, 4.7 years; cycling, 3.7 years; swimming, 3.4 years; jogging, 3.2 years; calisthenics, 3.1 years; and health club activities, 1.5 years.

Anecdata: My friend's 93 year old mother, whom age doesn't seem to affect at all (it terrifies me to see her climbing onto a kitchen bench to access the top cupboards) still plays tennis twice a week. Sadly she's been a widow for more than 30 years.