Bodybuilder off to Venice Beach, California; Aging Arthritis and Bodybuilding

A professional bodybuilder from Florida had become friends with Dr. Lox over the years. He was an accomplished author and bodybuilder. Golds Venice has traditionally been the Mecca of bodybuilding. It is not uncommon for even past greats such as Arnold Schwarzenegger to make an appearance and lift some weights. Though even Arnold Schwarzenegger has had his share of joint problems. Dr. Lox treats athletes and non-athletes alike in his Beverly Hills, California office, and in his Tampa Bay Florida office.

Aging and Bodybuilding

As a matter of fact most aging bodybuilders have joint problems. Even those who never competed, but kept a life long interest in their health and well-being through diet, exercise and lifting weights are prone to joint problems as they age. Dr. Lox has treated Mr. Olympia’s and those just keeping in shape as they age. Regenerative Medicine offers some potential and insight into a new way of thinking about aging gracefully, while staying in the gym.

Joint Arthritis and Bodybuilding

Joint arthritis is very common in bodybuilders as they age. As a matter of fact joint arthritis is so common as we age it is estimated that over 60% of people over 50 have some form of arthritis. No wonder, next to the common cold low back is second in frequency of complaints to doctors offices. The back is not uncommonly a troublesome area for weightlifters and bodybuilders. The problem with spines are they are multi-segmental.

A multi-segmental spine does not correlate with a simpler anatomical joint such as a knee. This is why back surgeries in the United States hover around a 50% percent success rate. Stated another now 50% FAILURE RATE. Regenerative Medicine may offer some alleviative measures, however an expert in spines knows how complicated they are being a multi-segmental problem and therefore not as simple as placing stem cells into one area or a plate and screw, and then everything is magically fixed.

Shoulders

Shoulder pain in weightlifters and Bodybuilders is very common. Too much emphasis is placed on heavy bench presses, overhead presses and similar exercises that stress the shoulder, especially over time. It is very common that there is an overdevelopment of the shoulder internal rotators especially the pectoral muscles. Far too little time is spent over the years balancing the external rotators and doing adequate stretching. This results in all too often rotator cuff problems, impingement syndromes, bicep tears, labral tears, and shoulder joint arthritis. Dr. Lox has had some tremendous results with athletes with shoulder pain. First it is extremely important to know what is exactly wrong with your shoulder. There may be multiple issues in longstanding athletes who stress their shoulders with heavy weights. Having a specific treatment plan for each athlete specifically tailored to their individual needs is paramount.

Hip and Knee Arthritis Pain

The hips and knees are often affected in weightlifting due to the common exercise most people do as starters squats and their variants. Hack squats, lunges, and leg presses. There is no doubt to the adage that heavy squats build size. As a longstanding Sports and Regenerative Medicine physician, Dennis Lox M.D. understands this, as well as what the effects are 20-40 years later. Add to this many weightlifters and bodybuilders were in other sports and may have had knee surgery. This complicates the issue further. Father Time does not forget prior sports injuries as we age. Trauma accelerates arthritis, and surgery is another form of trauma. Knee arthroscopy is so common, yet many patients fail to understand what happens to the knee years later after this surgery. Now hip labral surgery is becoming more common and the post traumatic arthritis that results from labral debridement is now becoming ever more clear. Many athletes are turning to Regenerative Medicine options as a means of addressing hip and knee wear issues, as well as the potential to prevent hip and knee joint replacement. Regenerative Medicine has found a place in Sports Medicine, and the very nature of bodybuilding and weightlifting lends itself to a nice fit with Regenerative Medicine as well.

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