Clinicians should discuss common health issues of the older population and how medical problems affect their sports performance. Patients with chronic conditions, such as hypertension and diabetes mellitus, benefit from participation in sports. However, special care should be taken to keep the patient healthy and minimize effects of these conditions and their treatments in athletic performance. Another important consideration in the older athlete is fluid ingestion and the increased risk of dehydration. There is evidence that physical exercise reduces pain in osteoarthritis and enhances physical function of affected joints. Older athletes often use multiple medications and dietary supplements; Clinicians should educate patients about possible effects of medications in sports performance.