Bionic boomers.

Its official name is "Boomer-itis." That's a term used to describe the increase in sports injuries and wear and tear ailments among boomers unwilling to slow down as their bodies age.

So as the current crop of 50-somethings literally wears themselves out, one could expect their demand for physically demanding amenities like golf and fitness to decline, right? Wrong. According to the latest member interest data from McMahon Group, a survey of members from more than 125 clubs ranked access to fitness facilities as a more important feature of club life than social events, private parties, and family activities. McMahon Group, a firm specializing in facilities planning for private clubs, said that only golf and dining ranked ahead of fitness.

But how do those weekend warriors expect tot keep up the pace? Research from the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons (AAOS) shows that a growing number of affluent boomers are seeking out surgeries--knee replacement, arthroscopic shoulder surgeries, and the like--on an elective basis to allow them to continue their active lifestyles. In fact, the AAOS estimates that between 1996 and 2001, the number of knee replacements among the 38-to-56-year-old set have doubled.

Contributing to the trend is the fact that more insurance companies are now willing to foot the bill for such repairs, though most of them won't cover the cost of the intensive rehab required afterwards. For many boomers, those expenses are out-of-pocket, and they are typically incurred at sports medicine rehab facilities that were once the exclusive territory of star athletes. A number of clubs around the country are already getting into the act by providing what, in light of the research, seems the next logical club amenity to come down to pike. They are partnering with local hospitals and sports medicine specialists to create physical rehabilitation programs, available at the club, for members who simply refuse to age gracefully.

Eldon Miller, editor of The Private Club Advisor newsletters, and Teri Finan, editor of PCA Plus, welcome your response to items in "Management +" at www.privateclubadvisor.com.