Doctor encourages people to stay active as they age

• By Wang Chun-chung and Sam Garcia / Staff reporter, with staff writer

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An 83-year-old took the pitcher’s mound as a 103-year-old stepped up to bat ahead of a baseball match between the Uni-President Lions and WeiChuan Dragons in Tainan, with one doctor saying it gave the audience a lesson in how to stay active while aging.

Shih Wu-chi (石武吉), 83, is a volunteer at National Cheng Kung University’s Center for Sports Science and Healthy Aging. He pitched for He Kuo-chao (何國昭), who is 103 years old.

Center director Lin Li-chuan (林麗娟) had invited orthopedic surgeon Chen Chien-hung (陳建宏) to take part in the event.

Two elderly people, center, who pitched and waved a bat before a baseball match between the Uni-President Lions and WeiChuan Dragons pose for a photo in Tainan on Sep. 24.

Photo courtesy of Dr. Orthealth Clinic in Tainan

The scene was more powerful than any health education presentation, said Chen, who is a specialist on osteoporosis, sarcopenia and preventive medicine for middle-aged and older adults.

The two older adults took to the field and showed that growing older does not mean stepping away from an active life, he said.

Instead, old age marks the beginning of another chapter of learning, pursuing dreams, sharing and contributing, Lin said.

At his clinic, some people in their 50s or 60s think that they should reduce their movement as they worry about wearing out their knees or getting hurt in a fall, Chen said.

Meanwhile, others still go to the market, eat with friends and do the things they want to do well into their 70s, 80s and 90s, like the two older people who stepped onto the baseball field, he said.

“The healthier your body, the farther you can go from home,” Chen often tells older patients.

As long as they maintain proper bone and muscle strength, and balance, they can continue to go out for activities daily, rather than gradually seeing their world shrink, he said.

Chen reminds sedentary older people not to go too far at once, as someone who has not exercised for a long time should gradually increase their activity level, he said.

What matters is not how much you can accomplish on any one day, but finding an approach that suits you, and is safe, gradual and sustainable, he added.