Leonard J. Hansen

Here's How in Maturity Solve a vision challenge on the tennis court; plus exercise safely.

By Leonard J. Hansen

Here’s how to play better tennis as a mature adult while wearing glasses and exercise effectively without hurting pesky joints. You ask the questions and we go to experts for the answers: Bifocal sight on the tennis court? Q. When I play tennis, the approaching ball shifts position as I view it from the top to the bottom half of my bifocal glasses. How do I adjust? A. First, ditch the bifocals, according to the experts at the American Optometric Association. "Tennis players who wear bifocals on the court will find that their game will suffer," states Paul Berman, O.D., chair of the association’s sports vision section. Here is why: traditional bifocals have a line between the distance and near segments so when the ball gets closer your eyes cross that line and, in your view, the location of the ball will change. It is because you are getting inaccurate information from your eyes. Don’t change to the progressive, or no-line bifocals, for tennis either, warns the expert, because these glasses have areas of distortion off to the sides. What do you do? Wear glasses prescribed for your distance vision only, as near-vision is far less important in tennis. Here are added tips from the eye doctors: If playing tennis out of doors during the day, sunglasses are a must, so have your single-vision glasses prepared with protection from the sun and its damaging ultraviolet rays. And, if the single-distance-vision glasses are for use only in tennis, consider having your optometrist prepare prescription sports goggles. The latter will protect your eyes better from an erratic tennis ball, and may also pevent ambient or distracting light from the sides as in traditional glasses. For a better shot at tennis, scrap the bifocals. Your game could be better, even if you may not quite jump over the net in victory. Dive into exercise Q. I need exercise but running, or even aggressive walking, is tough on my knees. What do I do? A. Dive in. "Water-based exercise is a great way for mature people to experience the benefits of working out without the impact associated with land activities such as jogging or tennis," advises David Brennan, exercise physiologist at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas. Water provides a safe, effective medium for conditioning and toning. "All parts of the body can be used while working out in your swimsuit," states Brennan. : In-water exercises may include swimming, aerobics and strength and flexibility training. "If you get off-balance, there is no risk of falling to the ground, and water buoys the body, taking weight off the knees," adds the specialist. Recent research reports that women, ages 60 to 90, improved balance, strength and agility after doing basic water exercises such as simulating stair climbing. Miriam Study Giles wrote the authoritative Aquacises: Restoring and Maintaining Mobility with Water Exercises after developing workout routines to benefit her own injured back. And it worked. "Why couldn’t people in their 60s (and over), like me, benefit from the magic that restores flexibility, endurance and a sense of well-being? I started a class for people from 60 to tottering 90. At first just three or four ladies parked their canes beside the pool, knelt at the top step, and were helped into the water. Now these same ladies jump into the water along with 30 or 40 other senior men and women, who look like (Radio City) Rockettes while they move to music." Many public and private exercise facilities, including the YMCA and YWCA, offer in-water exercise programs. Also check for possible water-based programs through your local recreation department or community college. So, if your creaks are too loud for brisk walking, dive into aquasises as the best way to maintain fitness, strength and endurance.