Posted on Saturday, 29th August 2009 by Roger Smythna
On an otherwise quiet day in Wisconsin, a high school gym is abuzz with a few students practicing their basketball. The gym is mostly quiet save for the regular sounds that take place on a basketball court, but one man hears ringing that no one else seems to here.
1500 of 2500 former NFL players surveyed reported that they suffered at least 1 concussion during their time in the league. On top of that, another 600 players suffered 3 or more concussions in their career. Why is this important? It’s important because concussions play a huge role in severe mental defects such as depression, post-concussion syndrome and chronic traumatic brain injury. All of these defects range from minor problems that can be shaken off in a couple days to something that can end one’s life. In the case of professional athletes, it’s more often the latter than the former.
Concussions very often lead to depression during the later years in life. If this next stat doesn’t tell you enough, we’d be very surprised. It’s reported that 87% of ex NFL players end up suffering from depression at some point in their lives. This number is extremely high and must be somewhat related to concussions, which are known to alter mood, sleep patterns, sex drive, and more.
It’s not just mental either. Strength Planet says, “according to the NFL Players Association, the average life expectancy of an NFL player is 58 years of age.” The life expectancy of the average American is 76 years old. 15-20% of former NFL players suffer arthritis so bad that it hampers their ability to perform even the simplest tasks. And it’s not just NFL players. 20% of professional boxers suffer from the aforementioned chronic traumatic brain injury (TBI). TBI is amongst the world’s leaders in causing death and disability.
Looking at these figures, people must realize the sacrifices pro football players (and other athletes who participate in contact sports) make at the expense of their bodies. People usually focus on the money, but these short-lived careers (the average NFL player only lasts about 6 years in the league) give athletes limited windows with which to build up a lifetime’s worth of savings.
The man on the basketball court decides to walk down from the bleachers, standing court side in sunglasses. Preferring not to be recognized, there’s no way around this and he is often approached by mothers, fathers, sons, and daughters. He responds in as friendly a manner as possible, though he’d prefer to just be.
The man we’re speaking of is Al Toon, a retired NFL wide receiver and a former Wisconsin Badger star. Having made three Pro Bowls and even leading the league in catches one year, Toon had a great career on the field. Unfortunately, it only lasted until he was 29 years old, all due to over 10 concussions suffered through the course of his career. A worthy sacrifice?
Tags: athletes, concussions, depression, fitness, football, Football Fitness, health, nfl, recreation, sports
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