Ice skating can help women of menopausal age keep their figures

Ice skating isn’t just for energetic children or for the elite athletes competing in the Winter Olympics. It’s also an excellent hobby for women in their 40s and 50s, say doctors at UT Southwestern Medical Center.

"It’s fun, aerobic and weight-bearing,” says Dr. Alison Dobbie, chair of family and community medicine at UT Southwestern. “It’s social, without being a team sport.”

Picking up the activity later in life should not be a problem, especially for those who previously have participated in any type of dance or gymnastics, says Dr. Dobbie, who restarted the hobby herself a few years ago.

“If you skated as a child, muscle memory kicks in,” she says. “With adult-friendly coaching, even beginners should be skating on the ice in a relatively short time.”

Visit www.utsouthwestern.org/primarycare to learn more about primary care clinical services at UT Southwestern, including family medicine.

Media Contact: LaKisha Ladson

Return to Winter 2010 Special Edition News Tips