Exercise improves health at any age. But when unprepared baby boomers hit tracks, trails and tennis courts, they can harm their bodies.

"Weekend warriors and boomers are more susceptible to injury because oftentimes they are not keeping themselves physically prepared," said Dr. Anne Meyer, whose private practice in West Los Angeles focuses on sports rehabilitation.

Physical activities can strain ligaments and muscles and damage joints. Falls and overexertion can inure aging exercisers. But boomers don't have to exchange outdoor fun for weekends spent channel surfing.

With a few steps, exercisers can stay both active and healthy. According to Meyer, exercising and stretching three times a week can help prepare boomers' bodies for active weekends.

Simple stretching before and after exercise can help prevent injury. Boomers should always include warmups and cooldowns in their workout routines. Nutrition also helps the body recover from exercise. Limiting processed foods and consuming more fresh fruits, vegetables and highquality proteins encourages the body to build healthy new tissues.

"Tissues are constantly being renewed. Sometimes what you remove from your diet is more important than what you add," said Meyer. "To keep hydrated, exercisers need to drink water often. Eating a small amount every four hours can boost metabolism and keep bodies energized during exercise. Weekend warriors with arthritis may want to avoid citrus, which can aggravate arthritic symptoms. Fish oils are a good addition to help decrease inflammation."

If an injury occurs, boomers should rest, apply ice, elevate an injured arm or leg, and consider treating pain with topical agents. If pain persists after treatment, medical attention should be sought.

This article is provided by NewsUSA.