Chapter 3: The Term “Athlete”

The basic problem that initiated my work in the field of wellness and physical movement was widespread sedentary behavior in the general population. See SedentaryNation.com. While I was researching sedentism, an orthopedic surgeon and athlete suggested I study the subject of the aging athlete which he called a new field of study in orthopedic medicine. Thus began a study which has grown to over 1,800 interviews of athletes and their related parties: parents, coaches, therapists, and family members. In terms of the high-performance athletes, what may be considered striking is that after their peak performance years, more than 90% of these athletes are mostly sedentary. Those in the 90th percentile group deny doing consistent daily physical movement and have no regular daily program of human maintenance or recreation. This article provides a working definition of the term athlete and places the term and movement training in historical and societal contexts. One goal is to open a dialogue which may transform the emphasis of physical coaching and mentoring to a more balanced and sustainable approach. Another is to examine how athletes can win the battle of wellness during their time on the field, and also in their post-athletic career.