Taking up rollerblading - 40s edition.

December 4, 2023 12:18 PM

I am a 44 year old lady. I'm considering taking up rollerblading but wondering about the risks - mainly bone breakage, etc. I am healthy per my doc and in the border between overweight and obese. I haven't skated since I was 10-11. Should I do this or would I likely suffer some sort of breakage? Too risky at my age? I'd take beginner lessons to start somewhere.
posted by Saucywench to Health & Fitness (14 answers total)

Do you have risk factors for osteoporosis? A bone density scan might put extra fears to risk. From the experience of several people in my orbit who took up rollerblading at ages varying from 45 to 65, the main risk is bruises and head knocks, so wear your protection and start with actual lessons. They all seem to be having a lot of fun.
posted by I claim sanctuary at 12:27 PM on December 4, 2023 [1 favorite]

I'm a 41 year old guy, with a 7 year old daughter who recently discovered a love of rollerskating. We've had a tremendous amount of fun going to the rink and skating together, and I've really enjoyed rollerskating again for the first time since my youth. Also, I broke my forearm a couple weeks ago skating with her (she tried some fancy footwork while holding my hand, we got tangled up, and instead of me falling on her, I fell hard on my elbow), so there's ... definitely some risk involved. I suspect if I'd been wearing padding (which I hadn't really felt was critical at a roller rink; I wouldn't skate outside without for sure though), I wouldn't have broken it, but hard to say.

In brief, tons of fun, but yes, you can break things.
posted by twigatwig at 12:30 PM on December 4, 2023

You might want to consider starting slowly -- just a few minutes at first, ramping up very gradually -- to give your muscles and joints a chance to adapt. A person I know of around the same age absolutely wrecked a knee playing soccer full-tilt for the first time in years -- it was the unaccustomed lateral motion that did it (also a risk in rollerblading). A physical therapist could probably give good advice on exercises you could do to proactively protect your joints from injury.
posted by ourobouros at 12:44 PM on December 4, 2023

I started skateboarding a couple of years ago when my kids were doing it. Never did it before and I was a bit worried about breaking a bone or otherwise injuring myself. While I did fall a couple of times it was never too bad. I made sure to always have my helmet and pads (knee, elbow, and wrist) on. I'm nowhere near good and If I go to a skatepark or if I'm trying stuff out I'll still put all of my gear on but if I'm just skating around I'll limit it just to the helmet now.
Unless you have other health issues going on I think you'll be fine rollerblading. Your progress may not be as fast as you'd like because as an adult you're probably a lot more concerned about falling than a kid would be but that's fine.
posted by any portmanteau in a storm at 1:10 PM on December 4, 2023

There was someone in their 50s starting on our roller derby team! So I'd say unless you have hip/bone/knee issues, you would be OK. Definitely put on all the gear and pads, even if it feels silly. Until you learn how to fall properly and stop yourself properly, these will help. I still wear wrist pads and knee pads because I know those are gonna hurt me most if/when I fall. Have fun at the lessons!!
posted by socky bottoms at 1:41 PM on December 4, 2023

You will be fine and have great times! Hunt around for a local skate group, the one in Boston is incredibly welcoming and helpful. Their announcements for skates clearly outline the degree of skill needed and there's a weekly "flat" session that meets on a local basket ball court. Do look for a quality skate shop that will get you a style of boot and wheels that meet your aspirations. I'm somewhat older than you and just starting and have really enjoyed it. Also don't panic if the first few times are, well freaking scary, it takes a bit to find the the feel but it does come and it's great.
posted by sammyo at 1:49 PM on December 4, 2023

Do it! So fun, and I took it up for the first time in nearly 30 years at about the same age.

Helmet, wrist, knee, hip pads in that order. Obviously, protect your head, but good wrist pads will protect your palms and wrists when you inevitably try to catch yourself when falling in exactly the way you are not supposed to. The others are probably for you to judge your comfort level. A nearly retired guy I know goes out looking practically like a hockey player, but he likes to go fast and he practices at least one body roll into the grass by the side of the path every time he goes out. Probably a good idea. You may fall, so armor up and just get used to it.
posted by meinvt at 2:02 PM on December 4, 2023 [1 favorite]

Wrist guards wrist guards wrist guards. Seconding what meinvt said about them. You can seriously mess up your hands/arms/elbows by trying to catch yourself in that wrong way.

Enjoy yourself! Before COVID, I'd go to the local roller rink pretty much every week and marvel at the incredible grace of the older gentlemen. One led me around in a partner skate briefly and it was like dancing with Astaire.
posted by queensissy at 2:10 PM on December 4, 2023

You're only 44! It's good to be grown-up enough to think about the risk, but all risks can be managed (albeit not eliminated without sucking all the fun out of life). Always wear a helmet and pads (especially wrist braces) and take it slow at first and you'll be skating around at your own pace in no time. I would start with more padding than seems reasonable and, once you gain confidence, you can decide how much protection you really need (when and how you fall will tell you what needs protecting, but you always need a helmet). Lessons are a good idea to take some of the early pain out and avoid getting into bad habits.

Have fun!
posted by dg at 2:28 PM on December 4, 2023 [1 favorite]

I would definitely go in knowing you *could* suffer some breakage, and decide if that would be devastating for you. A dear friend broke their arm taking up skating in their 40s, fucking it up badly enough to require surgery and months of pain and recovery, and it sucked, but they’re *so* excited to be able to get back on wheels soon because it was really great for them until the medical incident. But they have a life and job where being one arm down for months was frustrating but manageable. If they had been in a different job field, unable to pay large medical bills, lived alone without family to help them manage, etc., they might be feeling differently about the “was this worth it?” calculation.
posted by Stacey at 2:29 PM on December 4, 2023

Bicycling is a reasonable alternative with less potential for bone-cracking.
posted by ovvl at 4:21 PM on December 4, 2023

In addition to safety gear, you can max your chances of things going well by pairing skating with at least a little bit of strengthening and mobility work - I’m a big fan of yoga, which does good things for wrists and shoulders and hamstrings and the small muscles involved in balance. I started skating for the first time at 40, and have had a great time - I hope you do, too!
posted by rrrrrrrrrt at 5:43 PM on December 4, 2023 [4 favorites]

Wrist guards! I broke my wrist skating when I was 21. Breaks are a risk at any age. If you want to do it, do it.
posted by shock muppet at 5:55 PM on December 4, 2023

Skating is glorious and freeing. I started 3 years ago at 58 and absolutely love it. +100 to guards and pads!
posted by nandaro at 5:24 AM on December 6, 2023