After we reach a certain age, our bodies change. No matter how fit we may have been at 20, we’re very different people after 40. But growing older doesn’t have to diminish our fitness level. The good news is that not only can we retain the vigor of our youth, we can actually perform as well, if not better, than ever.

The baby boomer generation has yet to slow down. In fact, many are undeterred by aging and are taking on one physical challenge after another, from endurance races to judo to pool diving. There’s even anecdotal evidence that the wisdom of age can offer a competitive advantage where strategy and pacing are concerned. Boomers are also flocking to gyms at higher rates than the rest of the population. According to the International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association, the number of gym members over the age of 55 reached 8 million in 2005, a 314% increase since 1990.

Membership among 18- to 34-year-olds over the same time period increased by only 38.7%. But as motivated as the baby boomers seem to be, they do have their own set of unique needs and wants. Safety is the biggest issue, as injuries can not only sideline current health efforts but can put a serious kink in the plan for months or even years into the future.

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