It’s easy and natural for sports fans to overlook the many difficulties a professional athlete will face in life.
At first glance, they seemingly have everything that countless people dream of: Money, fame, power, popularity, fancy cars, big houses/mansions/vacation homes, pricey jewelry and so much more.
But the fact is, professional athletes are often paying a huge price to enjoy such a lifestyle. They are always putting their long-term health at risk, knowing that a serious and career-ending injury can happen at any moment.
One ongoing problem is concussions in sports, and it has been very well-documented in American football. Thankfully, data from the NFL shows that concussions have dropped drastically over the past six years. The league documented 275 concussions in 2015, but the number fell all the way down to 187 in 2021.
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With several major sporting leagues and events in place and football season not far off, it’s an opportune time to look at the many injuries and health issues that an athlete can endure.
Long-Term Muscle & Bone Pain/ Body Aches
There are many sad stories about the types of injuries that athletes endure, even long after their playing careers.
Whether it’s football, hockey, combat sports, soccer, golf or another ultra-active sport, the wear and tear on a player’s body can add up to significant long-term pain.
Dr. Bennet Omalu became the first person to discover Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) in 2002. The condition can only be diagnosed after a person is deceased, and it has been found in more than 300 former NFL players. This includes some players who played long ago in the ‘60s and ‘70s.
Four-time Super Bowl champion Joe Montana retired from football after the 1994 season. In a 2016 interview with USA Today, Montana talked about the pain and physical limitations he has experienced since retiring.
“My hands have been, oh my gosh, in the middle of the night they hurt like crazy,’’ Montana said. “They kept saying I’ll need a knee replacement when I can’t walk,’” he said. “I can’t really run or do much with it.”
Tiger Woods is widely regarded as the greatest golfer of all-time. Sadly, back injuries have sidelined him or greatly limited his play for large stretches of the past decade.
In a 2018 interview with ESPN’s Marty Smith (h/t Maria Pasquini of People), Woods explained that there was a lengthy period in which he needed help to get out of bed.
“For the better part of four to six months, I had to be helped out of bed every day,” Woods said. “And there were some days where you’d help me and I couldn’t stand up. I’d have to either just fall to the floor or just stay in bed.”
Former superstar goalie Ben Bishop, who was under contract with the Dallas Stars, was forced to retire at the age of 35 last winter because of a degenerative knee injury.
It’s very rare for NHL goalies to start more than 60 games a year these days. The position is incredibly physically demanding, as they take hard slap shots (90 miles per hour and up) and put a lot of stress on their muscles with the constant stretching, diving, reaching and skating.
Goalies are more injury prone now than ever before. It’s why you don’t see a lot of them play at a high level past the age of 35 anymore.
Mental Health, Anxiety & Depression
Many well-known athletes have been courageous in opening up about their struggles with mental health. Again, it’s easy for an average person to think that a wealthy and famous person is constantly happy and almost never upset.
But that’s not how it works. Many pro athletes also deal with mental health issues such as anxiety and depression. The pressure of having to maintain a strong self-image and reputation with the whole sporting universe following you is not easy.
Back in 2018, then-Toronto Raptor and current Chicago Bulls All-Star DeMar DeRozan opened up about his struggles with anxiety and depression in an interview with Doug Smith of the Toronto Star.
Soon after, Cleveland Cavaliers All-Star big man Kevin Love wrote an essay at The Players’ Tribune called “Everyone Is Going Through Something.” Love detailed his struggles with anxiety, even telling a story where he suffered a panic attack during a game.
Tennis star Naomi Osaka, Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown (Philadelphia Eagles) former Olympic swimmer and gold medalist Michael Phelps are among the other notable athletes who have openly talked about their struggles with mental health — hoping that their messages can inspire others that it’s okay not to be okay.