How will this style of training affect me when I'm older?

So I was wondering about this... we can all probably agree that GST is harder on the joints than your average activity, especially as you get into higher level ring work and dynamic work.

 

I know that careful, conservative progression while maintaining good mobility is the way to prevent injuries while training them NOW... but what about 50 years in the future? (should I live that long...)

 

Do the repeated stresses on the joints eventually catch up to you? If I plan on training this way for the next 20 years, striving to achieve as high a level as a can, should I expect to be hobbling around with arthritis in every joint in my body when I hit my 60-70s?

Gymnastics BUILD your joints

Can build your joints but also ruin them.

Just saw a video yesterday of an 89 yr old woman doing a hollowback press. I also know someone who blew out their brachialis after years of competitive gymnastics. Train smart is the key!

Depends on how wisely you use the tools provided.

 

Here is one man's story who regained his life through GB.

 

Yours in Fitness,

Coach Sommer

While that story is a huge testament to the effectiveness of F1/H1 in the context of rehab, I was more wondering about the accumulative wear and tear from years of high impact training. The poster had issues due to inactivity (perhaps not overall inactivity but neglecting development of shoulder strength and mobility)... not the same case as an athlete that has been stressing his joints over years of tumbling and ring work.

As I said previously, it depends entirely upon how wisely the athlete in question has been prepared.  

 

A universal truth is that foolish decisions often lead to unpleasant results.  Failure to follow proper progressions, habitually training thru pain, ignoring rehab and mobility, consistently failing to properly load and recover; all of these poor decisions come with hefty long term price tags that do not come due until years later.

 

Interesting to note that this rule applies to all areas of life; not only athletics.

 

Yours in Fitness,

Coach Sommer