Does fitness come at too great a cost for older people?

Without doubt, injuries are part and parcel of participating in most sports.

Just ask anyone who is getting that little bit older. The bones and muscles aren’t as flexible, and it takes longer – and can cost more – to recover.

But is that a reason why older people should not take up sport or give it up?

A study by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) shows that while there are costs to the health system from treating sport and other exercise-related injuries, this is outweighed by savings from boosted health benefits such as lower blood pressure, stronger bones, and improved mental health.

Australians saved the health system more than $320 million in a single year by participating in sport and other forms of physical activity, according to a report, Economics of sport and physical activity participation and injury.

What's more, it is estimated physical inactivity comes at a great cost – accounting for around $2.4 billion in health spending in 2018-19.

The AIHW report is part of a broader project funded by the Australian Sports Commission to progressively develop and test new methodology for gathering evidence about the costs of sports injuries and potential benefits to Australians from increased physical activity and improved injury prevention and management.

The Institute concluded that physical activity has physical and psychological benefits for individuals which can in turn benefit the health system by reducing the need for people to receive treatment for illness and injuries.