LIVING WELL

Mom took care of you.

Now you can return the favor.

same task as one ages because you're
more vulnerable. You have to be
careful in certain ways."
Dr. Chodoroff noted that "certain
high-impact activities are going to
make you hurt as we develop arthrit-
ic changes," something Serman can
attest to with his occasional arthritis
and aching elbow.
"My doctor says I should rest,
and tells me, 'What do you expect,
playing every day at your age?"'
Still, Serman doesn't let physical

Unlike most people and absolute-
ly against any good physiatrist's
advice, Stone never does any stretch-
ing or exercise routine. "This proba-
bly accounts for the abuse and
injury my body has taken," he said.
There really aren't any exercise
no-nos after 55, said Dr. Chodoroff.
However, if you were a sprinter in a
past life and wanted to resume at 55,
"I'd say that's not a good idea
because it's such an explosive, aggres-
sive movement.

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Frank Winton, Bill Serman and Willie Stone still swing mean racquets.

For su • scription
or a ertising
info ation, ,
please call
(248) 354-6060

Photo by Glenn Viet

12/25

1998

L20 Detroit Jewish News

problems interfere with his playing
tennis at least four times a week,
which he believes not only keeps
him young but his reflexes sharp.
"My kids say I ought to look at my
driver's license and confirm my
age," he said.
"Poor lifestyle choices are more
injurious than aging" to an athlete,
according to Dr. Chodoroff.
Serman and Stone are fit after a
lifetime of never smoking or drink-
ing coffee, and proper nutrition.
(Winton remains in good shape
despite his former indulgences, like
smoking.) Stone said he feels he
probably could repeat his all-day
squash feat from 28 years ago when
— as a mere lad of 48 — he played
154 games at the Jewish Community
Center. Three months after recon-
structive knee surgery in 1980 at age
57, he won the state seniors champi-
onship with a cast still on his knee.

"Most of us aren't naturally
immune to injury," said Dr.
Chodoroff. We have to read our
body signals and pain is a key signal.
If a pain persists, it's probably not
good pain. It means you've got to
change something — the activity.
the intensity, the surface or equip-
ment, or the length of time You're
doing it."
He said the most important thing
to preventing injury is regular daily
stretching.
While everyone knows people who
are health and fitness conscious from
an early age, Dr. Chodoroff said he's
surprised to see so many older people
start athletic programs who have
never been that personality type.
They become that type of person.
But most athletes get into a work-
out niche and that's all they do. That's
not smart," he warned. "Cross-training
actually helps your primary sport