Like every other San Antonian, Dr. Brad Tolin, a sports medicine expert at the San Antonio Orthopaedic Group, hopes Manu Ginobili has an outstanding season, now that he has chosen to rejoin the San Antonio Spurs.
But Dr. Tolin also realizes that Mother Nature is undefeated, and, even though Manu may be in outstanding physical shape, there will be some steps that the soon-to-be-40 year old will miss.
"You have to pay much more attention to a lot of these little factors that a lot of younger athletes take for granted," he said.
For example, Dr. Tolin says you can be in the gym 24/7, but you will still suffer the effects of aging on your system.
"There is about a ten percent decline in our aerobic fitness after age 30 every decade," he said. "High level athletes like Manu can probably expect about half of that decline. But that affects your strength and endurance to do things."
Dr. Tolin says many of the effects of aging cannot be sweated out in the gym.
"There is diminished blood flow to your brain, which can reduce reaction time," he said. "There is obviously the cumulative affect of some of the injuries that occur over the course of your life span as an athlete which affect the connective tissue, and that can lead to tendonitis and tears that typically don't happen when you're younger and more active."
And Dr. Tolin says basketball is probably the toughest sport for an older athlete to be able to perform well.
NFL star Tom Brady is also turning 40, but Dr. Tolin points out that he plays a very specialized role in a position which doesn't require that he perform many football roles, like, for example, blocking and tackling. He is also sitting when the Patriots' defense is on the field.
Manu, on the other hand, has to run up and down the court, play offence and defense, jump, throw, catch, and perform other intricate maneuvers at a very high level.
Dr. Tolin says in many ways, NBA players are the best athletes in any sport.
One advantage Manu will have, Dr. Tolin says, is Coach Pop on the sidelines. He says the Spurs coach has emerged as a master in managing the activities of older players in a way that protects their health, and also gets the best out of them on the court.
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