By James W. Miller, M.D.

Masters athletes are among the purest of those involved in the aquatic disciplines. They pursue their sport truly from a love of that sport, the benefits it can provide them, and the social experience that is shared. While few of them are talented enough to maintain prior world class standings, most commonly we see athletes return from prior aquatic backgrounds motivated to regain fitness, camaraderie, and competition. Many times, this rekindled interest is stimulated by an injury, a medical recommendation, or the need to cross-train. The motivation driving a Masters athlete clearly must be considered when dealing with them. Whether the athlete considers him or herself to be a fitness-oriented individual or a highly-competitive world-class athlete of prior or current standing or both, the motivation is strong to enjoy a long-term commitment enhancing lifestyle and self-esteem. This is worthy of consideration by all coaches, whether they have an age group, NCAA, or Masters background. Far more of the Masters athletes are being driven by internal motivation than the routine coach would normally be accustomed to. It may be a new reward to the coach to experience this internal excitement and drive, regardless of age or ability. Many Masters athletes are using the aquatic medium not only to excel at their sport, but also to enhance coping skills in order to deal with the day-to-day stresses of work, family, and society.

Research is currently underway concerning the impact of long-term aquatic exposure over the course of decades. The research from USA Swimming is based upon athletes who, at the very most, will have one to two decades of aquatic exposure. The Masters athlete may experience many additional decades.

The overall effect upon aging biochemically and anatomically is truly an exciting new area of research. The greatest percentage of athletes so far studied regarding the effects of aging comprise those in running. Not only is this sport limited to lower extremity aerobic exercise, but in many ways it is also a joint-stressful exercise. The aquatic sports do not have to face the issues surrounding gravity and its impact upon them.

Competitive Masters swimming is divided into 5-year age categories starting at 19 to 24 and extending all the way to the 100 to 104 age group. While Masters meets are truly competitive events, the social side of these gatherings is very strong, both on the local and on the national levels.

The injuries that occur with the Masters athlete are usually isolated to the overuse categories. While impact-related injuries certainly do occur, they are by far in the minority. In general it is found that an athlete over the age of 40 or 45 sees a much higher incidence of overuse syndromes than do their younger counterparts. These changes occur based on the physiology of the joint space and lubrication as well as on the introduction of degenerative processes, be that cartilaginous or bony, through long-term wear and tear. Underlying medical issues, such as vascular disease, diabetes, or pregnancy, to name a few, are new considerations to many coaches. The Sports Medicine Committee routinely addresses these and many other topics pertinent to Masters coaches and athletes. It is felt that sharing this information with the aquatic community will not only promote the Masters concept, but will also add other rewarding dimensions to an existing age group program.

"Goal planning," "taper meets," "shave-downs," and "speed" are all part of the Masters vocabulary just as they are with their age group counterparts, though the motivations behind the swimmer may be very different and must be recognized when formulating a successful Masters program.

Copyright © 1998-1999 American Swimming Coaches Association.