Herniated discs produce worse pain when sitting. In the elderly, the combination of lower back pain and sciatica with incontinence points to a condition known as lumbar spinal stenosis. This becomes more and more true as we age. All runners should use shoes with good mid-sole cushioning and should change shoes every 250 to 500 miles. 7 Grass, dirt and wooden tracks are less stressful to the body and are particularly recommended for older runners.
Older runners are also far more susceptible to fall-related injuries.
Another common cause for falls in older people is an episode of delirium, which can be brought on by dehydration. Following a fall, older people are at greater risk of developing dangerous subdural hematomas, or masses of blood from an injury that collect in an area within the skull. An upper arm strap may relieve some of the pain caused by this condition. Older swimmers are more likely to suffer rotator cuff rupture than younger swimmers. Another injury more common in the older athlete is rupture of the long bicipital tendon.