Over-35s an injury burden

Out-of-shape, middle-aged New Zealanders are costing the country hundreds of millions in sports-related accident compensation claims.

Latest figures show in the past 10 years, ACC has paid out more than $523 million in new and ongoing claims for sports-related injuries to people aged 35 and over. Last year alone, the figure was $66.7 million.

The claims were for injuries from a wide number of sports, ranging from cricket, soccer and rugby to fishing, dancing and bowls.

Last year, $1.4 million in claims was paid to over-35s for injuries from netball, $1.7 million from skiing, $1.8 million from soccer, and $2.3 million from rugby union.

Sports Medicine New Zealand chairman Dr Chris Milne said New Zealand was seeing more injuries among older people as the population aged and a growing proportion of older people stayed active.

The problem was particularly noticeable among middle-aged men, who presented with more, and more serious, injuries than women in the same age bracket, said Dr Andrew Ewens from the emergency department at Auckland's North Shore Hospital.

"The mind is willing and the body is not quite as resilient as it used to be," said Dr Ewens. "And then there's the male thing about being a bit bullet-proof."

Winter sports caused a large number of injuries, such as tendon ruptures, broken bones, dislocated joints and neck injuries, according to Dr Ewens. But some "pretty nasty" injuries, such as broken spines, were sustained through surfing and kite-surfing.

The reason people became more prone to injury as they got older was that their bodies "dried out" and became stiffer and less flexible, said Dr Milne. Ageing was accompanied by decreases in general fitness, resilience and coordination. The classic sports injury among unfit 30-somethings occurred when they took up a sport after many years' absence and ruptured a tendon.

Trainee Auckland sports physician Dr Brendan O'Neill knows this phenomenon only too well.

Dr O'Neill, 35, snapped his achilles tendon last year when he played his first game of soccer in 15 years.

A regional soccer representative when he was 17, Dr O'Neill gave up playing soccer in his early 20s in favour of running and cycling.

"So I was really good with 'straight line' stuff but as soon as I went back to play soccer and I had to change direction quickly, that's when trouble happened."

He was warned by an orthopaedic surgeon friend that he was likely to snap his Achilles tendon if he took up soccer again, but thought his basic level of fitness and some preparatory training would see him right. It didn't.

"As I was falling to the ground, I knew what had happened straight away and I was just devastated. I knew I was going to be in plaster for eight weeks."

All three sports physicians agreed that New Zealanders of all ages should be encouraged to exercise but that older people should apply common sense in their approach.

"If they are smart in the way they are active, then you can get the benefits of physical activity, like reducing the risk of heart disease, and minimise the risks," said Dr Milne. He advised choosing the right sport, warming up, stretching and having proper equipment and footwear. And, in the event of an injury, getting treatment from an appropriately qualified person.


- HERALD ON SUNDAY