Good Morning. I began writing on Substack a few months ago. I like how simple the platform is, and for the most part, I will be posting there far more often than here. I will continue to post here, but the content will be different. On Substack, I will focus more on midlife health and fitness issues. If you’re so inclined… subscribe and follow me there, too. Continue Reading »| Howard J. Luks, MD
Getting Older Isn’t the Problem. Moving Less, Stressing More, and Ignoring Your Body Is. In my office, I see it every day. Someone walks in with shoulder pain, knee stiffness, or a lingering ache that…| Howard J. Luks, MD
I’m excited to share something I’ve been quietly working on for a long time. I’ll be releasing a new book later this summer. It is written for people just diagnosed with knee arthritis, those who have had it for a while, or those considering a knee replacement. I will share it on my Substack with paid subscribers. If you missed my first book, Longevity Simplified, you can find it here. I’ve learned a lot from treating tens of thousands of patients over the last few decades. Continue ...| Howard J. Luks, MD
Just turned 62 and still training like it matters—because it does. Master athletes aren’t defined by age. We’re defined by the decision to keep showing up. Sure, changes occur… but we adapt. You’re not losing your edge—you’re letting it rust. Continue Reading »| Howard J. Luks, MD
I’m at the age where the difference is no longer subtle. The gap between those who move and those who don’t— in energy, strength, balance, confidence— is no longer measured in years. It’s measured in lived experience. I see it in how we get off the floor. I see it in how we handle stairs, carry groceries, or recover from a cold. I see it in posture, mood, mindset, and motion. Continue Reading »| Howard J. Luks, MD
A recent post struck a nerve. So many healthcare professionals reached out—not with solutions, but with stories. Stories of 3 AM wake-ups. Of patients who linger in their thoughts. Of the burden that…| Howard J. Luks, MD
You don’t fall because you’re old. You fall because you stopped practicing. Balance isn’t just something you lose with age— It’s something you lose from neglect. We stopped playing. We stopped moving in ways that challenge us. We sit more. Reach less. Twist, hop, and stretch way less. So when life throws a challenge— a misstep, a slippery curb, a surprise stair— We’re not ready. But you can train for balance. Continue Reading »| Howard J. Luks, MD
Your baseline fitness is your real safety net. Not your insurance. Not the hospital down the street. Not the specialist you hope you never have to see. It’s your ability to get off the floor without thinking. To catch yourself when you stumble. To carry your own groceries, climb stairs, or play on the ground with your grandkids. That’s the safety net that matters most. Continue Reading »| Howard J. Luks, MD
Medicine gets “harder” in many ways the longer you’re in it. Sure, some things become easier, but you understand how little we know and how badly some things can end. The illusion of expertise fades shortly after fellowship training– or at least it should. Gradually, it is replaced by wisdom—fluid over crystalline knowledge. You become an expert in your micro-domain. You’ve seen this movie before– you’re teaching newbies how to manage it, and you’re comfortable without being...| Howard J. Luks, MD
Frailty doesn’t happen all at once. It sneaks in slowly— through little setbacks that go unaddressed. A sprain that sidelines you for a month. A surgery that takes longer to bounce back from.| Howard J. Luks, MD
Setbacks aren’t the end. They’re a signal. A signal to slow down. To regroup. To rebuild smarter. The key is to manage them well… and this can be hard. Injury, illness, life stress—they all take a toll. They interrupt your momentum. But they don’t erase your progress. You don’t go back to zero. You go back to the foundation. And that’s where the real work happens. Rebuilding doesn’t mean starting over. Continue Reading »| Howard J. Luks, MD
I’m trying something different for the next few months. I’ll be sending short but meaningful messages meant to reframe how we approach and think about fitness. Please comment below—I am very…| Howard J. Luks, MD
When optimizing our health and longevity, prioritizing muscle mass and muscle strength is a critically important consideration. Our muscle mass and strength decline with age. The changes that occur to…| Howard J. Luks, MD