Howard J. Luks, MD

What’s Next… Substack

Howard J. Luks, MD — Tue, 13 May 2025 11:13:00 +0000

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.

You’re More Capable Than You Think

Howard J. Luks, MD — Mon, 12 May 2025 10:24:56 +0000

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 didn’t used to be there. And more often than not, they assume it’s just part of aging. That their joints are “worn out.” That exercise is risky. That slowing down is inevitable.

But here’s the truth:
Getting older isn’t the issue.

Coming Soon: You’re Not Broken: Understanding and Thriving with Knee Osteoarthritis- My Latest Book

Howard J. Luks, MD — Sat, 03 May 2025 11:02:20 +0000

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.

Birthdays and Abilities

Howard J. Luks, MD — Thu, 01 May 2025 09:56:55 +0000

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.

The Age When It Starts to Show

Howard J. Luks, MD — Mon, 28 Apr 2025 11:06:12 +0000

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.

The Reason Our Profession Still Has a Soul.

Howard J. Luks, MD — Thu, 24 Apr 2025 12:10:21 +0000

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 comes with caring deeply and carrying it quietly.
Let’s talk about that a little more.

There’s no CPT code for staring at the ceiling at 3:17 AM.
No RVU for rethinking a plan you already wrote down, but now feel could be better.

We shouldn’t normalize the loss of mobility

Howard J. Luks, MD — Mon, 21 Apr 2025 11:42:36 +0000

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.

Your Baseline Fitness is Your Safety Net

Howard J. Luks, MD — Mon, 14 Apr 2025 10:52:45 +0000

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.

Seasoned Doctors Want to Leave Medicine.

Howard J. Luks, MD — Thu, 10 Apr 2025 10:46:47 +0000

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 overconfident.

Frailty Creeps Up On You

Howard J. Luks, MD — Tue, 08 Apr 2025 10:58:50 +0000

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.
A cold that turns into weeks of inactivity.
One day, you stop climbing stairs.
Another, you stop getting off the floor without help.
Not because you can’t
but because you stopped practicing.

Every interruption resets your baseline fitness.

Setbacks and Fitness

Howard J. Luks, MD — Thu, 03 Apr 2025 10:53:26 +0000

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.

We Exercise To Gain, Not To Lose.

Howard J. Luks, MD — Tue, 01 Apr 2025 11:38:00 +0000

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 interested in your thoughts.

Exercise is not for loss.

It’s only for gain.

You’ve been told to move to lose—

~lose weight,

~lose fat,

~lose guilt.

But that’s not the point.