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Newsweek
07-08-2025
- Health
- Newsweek
New Sports Mean New Preventions and Treatments for Post-Middle Age Athletes
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Populations get older, but their desire to stay active past middle age stays the same. In recent years, post-middle-age groups have begun to gravitate toward seemingly lower-impact sports to help them stay fit. Pickleball, in particular, has become popular among all age groups, growing from 3.46 million players in 2019 to 19.81 million players in 2024. However, even sports marketed toward post-middle age populations—specifically between the ages of 40 and 60—can come with serious risks, often requiring medical and even surgical intervention. Newsweek partnered with data firm Statista to develop a ranking of America's Leading Doctors, a multispecialty list that highlights more than 2,800 doctors from 15 medical specialties from hospital systems around the country. Sports Medicine highlights 175 doctors and Hip Surgery highlights 200, with the top 30 in each category ranked numerically and the rest listed alphabetically by last name. Among the leading sports medicine doctors highlighted, a few shared their insights on how sports injury trends have changed in older populations, how post-middle age athletes can train to prevent injury and how they're treating them when one does occur. Photo-illustration by Newsweek/Getty Sports Trends Change, Even When Our Bodies Don't There is no questioning the drive to partake in sports post-middle age. Low-impact activities can help keep older adults fit and healthy. For mental well-being, activities—like Pickleball—can provide a new social outlet, as well. "It's the fastest-growing sport in the country, especially among adults over 50. But it's more than a game—it's become a social lifeline," Dr. Charles DeCook, hip and knee replacement specialist and orthopedic surgeon at Total Joint Specialists in Georgia, told Newsweek. "It brings people together, builds friendships and offers a fun, low-barrier entry point to staying active." "The problem is, many of these athletes are carrying years of wear and tear—especially in their knees—and the return to activity often unearths chronic conditions that have been silently progressing," DeCook continued. An older athlete is not necessarily suffering from a completely new injury. Rather, muscles and joints that weaken over time are at greater risk of injury. The sports themselves aren't causing injuries, per se, but the movements that they involve can make a silently growing problem come to the surface. "A lot of back peddling and movements on the balls of the feet place a lot of intensity onto the calf musculature, and if the muscles aren't prepared to do that work, they can get injured," Dr. Lauren Borowski, sports medicine specialist at NYU Langone, told Newsweek. The promotion of these sports for adults between 40 and 60 means that more people are getting active—particularly those who may have never done so in the past. This only makes the issue worse, leading to a substantial recent uptick in injuries, Gregory Rubin, doctor of nonsurgical orthopedic sports medicine at Landmark Hospital of Southwest Florida, told Newsweek. "We are seeing activity levels increase in a population that was not as active before. As a result, we are seeing acute exacerbations of chronic conditions such as pain from knee arthritis and shoulder pain from rotator cuff tendonitis," Rubin said. This is a tough balance for patients. To stay healthy as they age, keeping active is important, yet these same activities are causing injuries in those who were not previously active. Preventing Injury Before It Happens The risk of injury should not keep post-middle-age groups from staying active. In fact, the opposite is true. The way to prevent getting hurt while playing sports is to stay active in a more mindful way. This means strengthening and exercising those muscles and joints that may be vulnerable, preventing something life-altering before it happens. "First and foremost, I recommend training with a variety of activities. No one should be doing only one thing, all the time. Secondly, weight or resistance training. We lose muscle as we age. It is a natural part of aging called sarcopenia, and it is so important to work on maintaining lean muscle mass and strength as much as we can," Borowski said. "Resistance training has been shown to decrease one's fall risk, improve balance, and keep us independent longer. We need the muscular strength to better support healthy joint movement." Sports like martial arts may be more intense and pose a greater risk of injury, but if an older athlete takes care, their muscles will grow even stronger, preventing future injury, Borowski said. "I have seen more adults participating in martial arts well into their 40s, 50s and 60s. I would say, Brazilian jiu-jitsu is one that is particularly hard on the body," Borowski said. "However, it is a practice that requires a lot of mobility and agility so the training can be really good to continue if tolerated." The exercise that will help people stay healthy as they age does not need to be intensive, though, meaning low-impact sports are a great option, as long as people aim to engage in 150 minutes of moderate intensity exercise a week and two days of weightlifting," Rubin said. "This will help maintain muscle that will help stabilize our core, which can decrease injuries to the back and lower extremities." There has been evidence that, by following these guidelines over time, the risk of injury when people start to become more active later in life lessens, according to Dr. Robert Grumet, an orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine specialist at the Orthopaedic Specialty Institute Medical Group of Orange County. "ACL has been studied a lot, it has some pretty good prevention protocols, you know brute strength, [moderate-intensity] strength, specifically looking at how the knee, hip and ankle align. There are some pretty good results showing that athletes that commit to these prevention programs have a lower incidence of injury to ACL tears," Grumet told Newsweek. No matter how it is done, staying active sooner will help older groups continue to stay active, which is important for overall well-being, preventing injury while making individuals feel better in the moment and allowing them to lead stronger, happier, healthier lives. "What matters most, though, is the larger truth: Movement is medicine. Staying active is the single most effective strategy we have to reduce cardiovascular disease, cancer, cognitive decline and depression. It's also the foundation for independence and quality of life," DeCook said. When All Else Fails, New Treatments Are Here Despite prevention, injury can still occur. Luckily, treatment options are expanding and, in many cases, surgery is no longer necessary to get athletes back to peak performance. Traditional non-invasive treatments can relieve pain and reduce swelling, making them good options for patients with less serious conditions like ligament sprains, muscle tears and tendonitis. In the past, corticosteroid injections were one of the most popular alternatives, but this has started to change. "We are definitely trying to keep our patients out of the O.R. and are using more non-surgical interventions like extracorporeal shock wave, platelet-rich plasma injections and percutaneous needle tenotomy," Borowski said. While these technologies are developing and providing more choices for patients, shock wave and injection treatments are not always an option for more serious injuries. Luckily, surgical options have become more advanced, as well, meaning less healing time and quicker returns to activities for patients who must undergo intensive procedures. "Modern knee replacement surgery has evolved dramatically," DeCook said. "We personalize the procedure—restoring the native joint line, preserving ligament balance and using high-performance implants designed with active patients in mind." "These surgeries are now outpatient. Patients are walking, going up and down stairs and getting home the same day as surgery," DeCook continued. "We are seeing patients returning to work and driving in days, and they often return to the Pickleball court within weeks." Being an athlete doesn't end after middle age, it only opens new possibilities for staying fit. As long as we keep our bodies healthy and strong in a mindful way, we can stay on our feet—and on the court—for years to come.
Chicago Tribune
22-05-2025
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
Tennessee recruit Claire DeCook will graduate early. For the junior star and Naperville North, ‘this is it.'
Naperville North junior forward Claire DeCook is considered an honorary senior by her teammates. When the season ends for the outgoing senior class, DeCook will be saying goodbye to her high school playing career too. The Tennessee recruit intends to graduate in December so she can begin taking classes at the university in January and get a head start on her college soccer career. DeCook made the decision before the beginning of this season at the urging of Tennessee's coaching staff. 'They highly encourage their recruits to come early just so you get a feel for everything,' she said. 'But it's completely optional. 'My family and I talked about the advantages and everything, and we thought it was best for me, especially with all the resources they could provide. It didn't take me long at all to be like, 'Yeah, I kind of want to do this.'' DeCook, whose older sister Cameron is a student at Tennessee, is part of a new trend of high school stars graduating early. It is more common in football, but for girls soccer players, it means missing their final high school season. The decision sped up the end of a whirlwind high school career for DeCook, who was the all-area player of the year in 2024 after returning from ACL surgery. This season has felt a little surreal to her. 'It's definitely different because when you're a junior, it's like, 'Oh, you have another season,'' she said. 'I feel like everyone feels that they have more time than they do. 'Freshman and sophomore year went by so fast, and so did junior year. It was a big reality check in like, 'OK, this is my last game playing against this team.' 'So the fact that I don't have another year after this, I'm just living in the moment and making sure I get everything done now.' DeCook, as ever, is getting a lot done. She scored the game-winning goal in the fourth-seeded Huskies' 3-0 victory over 13th-seeded Plainfield East in the Class 3A Oswego Regional semifinals on Wednesday. It was DeCook's 10th goal of the season and the 40th of her career. The Huskies (12-5-3), who will play either fifth-seeded Oswego or 12th-seeded Waubonsie Valley in the regional championship game at noon Saturday, want to extend their season — and DeCook's tenure — as long as possible. 'When we did our senior night, that's when it kind of became really real, when she was wearing the senior shirt rather than the underclassman shirt,' Naperville North senior defender Emily Buescher said. 'The other three freshmen she came on the team with, they gave her her rose. That was a really big thing. 'We don't refer to her as a senior, but in the world of soccer she is.' The Minnesota-bound Buescher said it was amazing to play alongside DeCook, whom she has known since they were little. One of Buescher's club teammates, Mya Nugent, enrolled early at Minnesota. Buescher sees the benefits in doing so but opted not to do so herself. 'It is much bigger culturally with the SEC,' Buescher said. 'It gives them a lot of time to start lifting and stuff like that. 'I leave in three weeks, so I leave pretty early too. But I definitely wanted to be here. I didn't get to play high school soccer my freshman and sophomore year, so to me I could never give up this because we're a family. What would I do without this?' What will the Huskies do without DeCook? Naperville North coach Steve Goletz is going to find out sooner than he'd like. 'For Claire to have the opportunity she has is incredible, and it's because of all the hard work that she's put in since she's been a little kid,' Goletz said. 'She's going to go on and do great things. 'For us, it's sad just because of not only Claire's soccer ability but also her and her family are incredible people. We really have enjoyed some amazing memories and moments with not only Claire but also Cam. So not only are we going to miss her on the field in regards to her ability, but also the charisma and what she brings every day.' Which is considerable. 'Her work rate is incredible,' Goletz said. 'Her willingness to compete is next level. I'm just super fortunate that I've been able to coach her and sad that this is it. 'Hopefully we can continue to win and get as many games as possible with her and with this fantastic group as a whole.'
Time of India
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Man picks up a 3.81-carat diamond, thinking it was a candy wrapper, while on a trip with his family
Some say luck is just a preparation that meets opportunity, while others call it fate. But sometimes, someone comes across something so precious and completely unexpected that it reminds us all of how surprising life can be. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Be it people finding million-dollar paintings in thrift stores or ancient coins buried in their backyard, these moments of accidental fortune seem to make one's day. There's something magical about discovering hidden treasure in the most unlikely places, and similar is the story of a man who recently had such a moment, where a simple family outing turned into a story to remember. This man was on an outing with his family While on a family vacation in Arkansas, , a farmer from Minnesota and amateur rock collector, made an unforgettable discovery where he found a 3.81-carat brown diamond. This took place on April 21 at the , a public site known for allowing visitors to search for real gems. According to a press release from Arkansas State Parks, DeCook had been exploring the area when he spotted something shiny on the ground. 'DeCook calmly walked over to where he had seen the diamond, picked it up and inspected it before calling to his brother,' the release stated. ''Oh, you're going to be mad once you see what I found!'' he jokingly told him. DeCook later told FOX 9 Minneapolis that the diamond had an unusual yet familiar appearance. 'Kind of looks like a candy wrapper. Real shiny looking, kind of like a Werther's candy wrapper… As you get closer to it, you can tell it's a diamond pretty quickly,' he said. Named the diamond after his dog The Minnesota resident returned to the park a few days later to have the gem officially registered. He named it 'The Duke Diamond' in honor of his dog. 'You just never know what you're gonna find. It's a chance of a lifetime,' DeCook said. Assistant park superintendent Waymon Cox noted that the recent rainy weather helped unearth the diamond. 'April has been a very wet month at the park, with more than 12 inches of rain,' Cox said. 'As rain falls in the search area, it washes away the dirt and uncovers heavy rocks, minerals, and diamonds near the surface.' DeCook's discovery marks the largest diamond found at the park so far in 2025. Before this the most significant discovery of a diamond in the park was a 7.46-carat gem that was found by a French tourist in January 2024.
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Minnesota man finds 3.81-carat brown diamond at Arkansas State Park
MURFREESBORO, Ark. — A visitor of Crater of Diamonds State Park in Arkansas uncovered a 3.81-carat brown diamond in the ground while visiting with his family in April. The man who found the diamond was David DeCook, a regular visitor to the park from Stewartville, Minnesota. The state park says DeCook was visiting with his family on Monday, April 21, when he spotted what he first thought was a candy wrapper south of the park's south wash pavilion. However, once he saw a metallic shine on the object, he realized he had discovered the diamond. The 3.81-carat diamond is described as having a metallic, copper luster with a blocky, triangular shape. Crash between two trucks kills woman in Boone County, Arkansas According to the park, DeCook inspected the diamond and stashed it in his pocket, telling his brother Derek, 'Oh, you're going to be mad once you see what I found!' DeCook returned to the park a few days later to register the diamond. He decided to name his find The Duke Diamond after his dog and has not yet decided what to do with the diamond. The 3.81-carat diamond is the biggest diamond found at Crater of Diamonds since French visitor Julien Navas found a 7.46-carat Carine Diamond in January 2024. (Courtesy: Crater of Diamonds State Park) (Courtesy: Crater of Diamonds State Park) (Courtesy: Crater of Diamonds State Park) (Courtesy: Crater of Diamonds State Park) (Courtesy: Crater of Diamonds State Park) (Courtesy: Crater of Diamonds State Park) (Courtesy: Crater of Diamonds State Park) Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOLR -
Fox News
05-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Fox News
Man finds 'candy-like' diamond while exploring Arkansas state park: 'Chance of a lifetime'
An amateur rock collector recently hit the jackpot while exploring a state park in Arkansas. David DeCook, a Minnesota resident, unearthed a stunning 3.81-carat brown diamond at the Crater of Diamonds State Park on April 21. The diamond is the largest that has been found in the park in 2025 so far, according to Arkansas State Parks. In a press release, the government organization said that DeCook was on a family trip to the park when he found the gem. "DeCook calmly walked over to where he had seen the diamond, picked it up and inspected it before calling to his brother," the press release noted. "Stirring up some natural sibling rivalry, David told Derek, '"Oh, you're going to be mad once you see what I found!'" The Minnesota resident returned to the park a few days later to register the diamond. DeCook decided to name his discovery "the Duke Diamond" after his dog. "You just never know what you're gonna find. It's a chance of a lifetime." DeCook identified himself as a farmer to FOX 9 Minneapolis and told the outlet that the diamond "kind of looks like a candy wrapper." "Real shiny looking, kind of like a Werther's candy wrapper… As you get closer to it, you can tell it's a diamond pretty quick," he said. DeCook added, "I was very surprised, I guess, and never thought I'd find one that big." "You just never know what you're gonna find. It's a chance of a lifetime." Arkansas State Parks also noted that after DeCook found the gem, a heavy amount of rain covered the area – a good omen for diamond hunters. "April has been a very wet month at the park, with more than 12 inches of rain," assistant park superintendent Waymon Cox said in a statement. "Many of the park's largest diamonds are found on top of the ground," he added. "As rain falls in the search area, it washes away the dirt and uncovers heavy rocks, minerals and diamonds near the surface." The Duke Diamond is the largest find at the Crater of Diamonds State Park since a French visitor found a 7.46-carat diamond in Jan. 2024. The tourist, Julien Navas, named the gem after his fiancée, Carine.
