I’m actually not surprised, but I’ve become pretty sensitive to the brutality of professional sports - especially football and hockey. No way the human body was designed to withstand that kind of punishment for extended periods of time. The neurological issues alone must outweigh any conditioning benefits long term. Even today, watch how often a player is clearly concussed but allowed to keep playing - not to mention all the smaller hits that build up over time. Not a recipe for a long life.
Wow. That is stark. I assume pro hockey players have a lifestyle that is quite different from normal men, aside from all the hockey they're playing. And all the physical conditioning would generally be good for their longevity, not bad. This definitely merits more study.
I wonder what the life expectancy of an NFL player is.
I had more questions after reading this:
- The average life expectancy in the US may be 73 years but how many players in the study were American?
- Did the study take into account any players who died (from both the study and control groups) in car accidents or by suicide?
Often players have a tough time leaving the limelight and accepting a more normal lifestyle. This could lead to risky behavior, depression or suicide.
I’m actually not surprised, but I’ve become pretty sensitive to the brutality of professional sports - especially football and hockey. No way the human body was designed to withstand that kind of punishment for extended periods of time. The neurological issues alone must outweigh any conditioning benefits long term. Even today, watch how often a player is clearly concussed but allowed to keep playing - not to mention all the smaller hits that build up over time. Not a recipe for a long life.
Wow. That is stark. I assume pro hockey players have a lifestyle that is quite different from normal men, aside from all the hockey they're playing. And all the physical conditioning would generally be good for their longevity, not bad. This definitely merits more study.
I wonder what the life expectancy of an NFL player is.