Sarah missed an easy dink last Tuesday. Six months ago, she would have crushed it.
“I’m getting old,” she told her partner.
But Sarah isn’t getting old. She’s dealing with inflammation. And there’s a big difference between these two things.
That step you can’t quite make anymore? The stiffness you feel the next morning? It might be inflammation setting up camp in your joints. It steals your speed and makes everything harder.
The good news? You can fight back.
What’s Really Happening
Every quick move deposits inflammatory compounds in your joints. Every overhead shot. Every pivot. It piles up faster than your body can clear it.
Ice and pain pills only mask symptoms. Meanwhile, inflammation keeps winning, making you hesitate on shots you used to nail.
Over time, inflammation wins. Unless we do something different.
How to Fight Back
Start Where It Hurts
Inflammation goes for your weak spots first. To keep moving, you’ve got to shore up those areas.
For knee pain: Walk backwards up hills or on a treadmill. Builds strength without joint impact.
For back pain: Do dead bugs and bird dogs (just search Youtube). Do this 3 times weekly. Teaches your core to protect your spine.
For shoulder issues: Try wall angels (like snow angels against a wall) plus resistance band work.
Ditch the Ice Pack
The players who stay fast into their 70s know something important. Movement heals better than sitting still.
Foam roll after every game. Focus on your thighs, glutes, and the sides of your legs. This helps your body process inflammation faster than ice ever could.
Use a tennis ball or lacrosse ball on your feet and calves before you play. Roll it around for a few minutes. This wakes up your muscles and prevents injuries.
Try compression sleeves if your knees or elbows bother you. They help blood flow during the game. Unlike ice, they don’t limit your movement.
Eat Smart
Your post-game meal can fight inflammation for you. But you have to choose the right foods.
Eat colorful fruits and vegetables. Berries, leafy greens, and tomatoes all fight inflammation naturally. They’re like medicine that tastes good.
Add healthy fats to your meals. Olive oil, avocados, and nuts give your body what it needs to make its own anti-inflammatory compounds.
Get protein within an hour of finishing your game. About 20 grams is perfect. This helps your muscles repair before inflammation sets in.
Recovery That Actually Works
Try this simple trick after playing. Lie on your back and put your legs up against a wall. Stay there for 10 minutes. This helps flush out inflammatory waste from your legs.
Sleep is when your body does its best repair work. Get at least seven hours every night. This isn’t optional if you want to feel good on the court.
A Natural Helper
One more thing that’s helping players extend their court years is curcumin. Curcumin is the active part of turmeric. Research shows it supports healthy inflammation levels.
Many players in our community have started adding Advanced Bionutritionals’ Curcumitol-Q® to their daily routine. It’s a highly bioavailable form of curcumin that’s 59 times more potent than regular curcumin.
You can find it here: Curcumitol-Q®
Exclusive for Fit Pickler Readers: Advanced Bionutritionals has provided an exclusive discount for our community. Simply order through any of the links in this article and your discount will be automatically applied.
Your Game Plan
You’re not slowing down because you’re getting older. You’re slowing down because inflammation is winning.
Start with some (or all) of these this week:
- Try backward hill walks for stronger knees
- Add berries to your post-game meal
- Practice the legs-up-wall recovery technique
- Consider natural curcumin support
Your court speed is still in there. Time to set it free.
