Are Athletes Really Getting Better, Stronger, Faster?

[greybeard]

Here are some provocative facts and insights on the subject. The value judgments that inhere are for each of us. I found the presentation interesting; perhaps you might as well.

http://us1.campaign-archive2.com/?u=...f&e=beae40dd71

[conmanlhughes]

An article from online on the subject:

Over the past few years, injuries to pro athletes are becoming more and more prevalent, such as RGIII, Kyrie “Uncle Drew” Irving, and Kobe Bryant. Some might blame age, some might just say stuff happens, some still might say its bad luck. However, there seems to be an increasing trend of the average pro athlete becoming more… athletic. Lineman are getting bigger, centers and power forwards are becoming taller and stronger, and tennis players are now turning into giants. How does that affect the sports we all know and love? Well, it may surprise you in more than one way.

From the 1950s to 1970’s, the average linemans size in the NFL was about 6’2, 250 lbs. Nowadays, it is about 6’5-6’8, 300-350 lbs, according to Mens Health Magazine. Professional lineman on average gain about 1.5 pounds a year, which has led to a near 100 pound increase in average weight from the beginning of the league to now. This puts the athletes at greater risk for injuries and more importantly, a greater risk for developing diseases such as heart and kidney disease as well as diabetes. Now, imagine being hit by one of these behemoths going full speed. This also increases the injury risk for the other players, even though their position weight and height averages are also increasing. Look at the average size of a center in the NBA over the years; In the 1960s, the average NBA center was 6’9. That is the height of current era small/power forwards. The average NBA center height now is around 6’11 to 7’2 (according to a NBA news survey); which is a marginal increase in size but still a considerable one. This increase in height does terrible things to the body specifically the ankles and knees; some of the most delicate parts of the body. The rate at which these players grow do not give enough time for their bodies to truly strengthen and harden, so it is easier to become injured. All NBA positions have seen a gradual influx of increased height over the last couple decades. So, if these trend continues, how will this affect the players and the viewers of America’s favorite games?

Overall, thanks to more rules from the governing body of sports and new technology, the injury rate in sports (from high school to NFL,NBA, MLS, etc.) has gone down dramatically compared to past years. From 1931 to 1970, an average of 18.6 people died per year from football. From 1991 to 2007, that number has gone down to 4.2 deaths per year. Most of these fatalities happened in lower level athletics, which questions the enforcement of rules and proper ways of doing tackles and such in a portion of the sport less in the nation’s eye.

However, there is a recent disturbing trend that injuries are increasing in pro athletics. During the NBA lockout, injury rates were found to have increased 9 injuries more per day in the league than in previous years.The NFL in 2010 (according to the NFLPA) the average injuries per week increased from 3.2 to 3.7 and the number of players placed on IR increased by 59 injuries relative to the average of the past years statistics. Does this mean the evolution of man has accelerated to the point technology can no longer keep up? It is quite possible thats so. Unfortunately, a scenario of the future is 7’ tall point guards and 7’6 450 pound lineman is quite likely to happen. This will dramatically explode the injury rate of the leagues, creating chaos and mayhem for the medical industry to keep up.Its possible if the medical industry (push comes to shove) they will be able to keep up with the growth trend; however, it is unlikely their methods of keeping the players healthy will last for the players. The pain those remarkable specimens will go through to play a game will be incredible. But America must have its entertainment, so they will play on, whether that means being forced by the team doctor or by the money vacuum of a wife, it will happen.

What would be a credible solution to this growing problem? Putting weight limits on positions would help reduce the injuries in the league. Perhaps, new technology that wraps weak areas in armor or an air bubble will be created. Even more outrageously, the human component of sports could be totally replaced and the Monday Night Football we all love (and a smaller proportion that used to play) would be dominated by robots. With the problem looming over like a long lockout, there exist many solutions, but money will be the deciding factor; creating fear that the resolution will not solve the problem at all with the increased injures going on in professional sports.

[Jarhead]

An article from online on the subject:

Over the past few years, injuries to pro athletes are becoming more and more prevalent, such as RGIII, Kyrie “Uncle Drew” Irving, and Kobe Bryant. Some might blame age, some might just say stuff happens, some still might say its bad luck. However, there seems to be an increasing trend of the average pro athlete becoming more… athletic. Lineman are getting bigger, centers and power forwards are becoming taller and stronger, and tennis players are now turning into giants. How does that affect the sports we all know and love? Well, it may surprise you in more than one way.

From the 1950s to 1970’s, the average linemans size in the NFL was about 6’2, 250 lbs. Nowadays, it is about 6’5-6’8, 300-350 lbs, according to Mens Health Magazine. Professional lineman on average gain about 1.5 pounds a year, which has led to a near 100 pound increase in average weight from the beginning of the league to now. This puts the athletes at greater risk for injuries and more importantly, a greater risk for developing diseases such as heart and kidney disease as well as diabetes. Now, imagine being hit by one of these behemoths going full speed. This also increases the injury risk for the other players, even though their position weight and height averages are also increasing. Look at the average size of a center in the NBA over the years; In the 1960s, the average NBA center was 6’9. That is the height of current era small/power forwards. The average NBA center height now is around 6’11 to 7’2 (according to a NBA news survey); which is a marginal increase in size but still a considerable one. This increase in height does terrible things to the body specifically the ankles and knees; some of the most delicate parts of the body. The rate at which these players grow do not give enough time for their bodies to truly strengthen and harden, so it is easier to become injured. All NBA positions have seen a gradual influx of increased height over the last couple decades. So, if these trend continues, how will this affect the players and the viewers of America’s favorite games?

Overall, thanks to more rules from the governing body of sports and new technology, the injury rate in sports (from high school to NFL,NBA, MLS, etc.) has gone down dramatically compared to past years. From 1931 to 1970, an average of 18.6 people died per year from football. From 1991 to 2007, that number has gone down to 4.2 deaths per year. Most of these fatalities happened in lower level athletics, which questions the enforcement of rules and proper ways of doing tackles and such in a portion of the sport less in the nation’s eye.

However, there is a recent disturbing trend that injuries are increasing in pro athletics. During the NBA lockout, injury rates were found to have increased 9 injuries more per day in the league than in previous years.The NFL in 2010 (according to the NFLPA) the average injuries per week increased from 3.2 to 3.7 and the number of players placed on IR increased by 59 injuries relative to the average of the past years statistics. Does this mean the evolution of man has accelerated to the point technology can no longer keep up? It is quite possible thats so. Unfortunately, a scenario of the future is 7’ tall point guards and 7’6 450 pound lineman is quite likely to happen. This will dramatically explode the injury rate of the leagues, creating chaos and mayhem for the medical industry to keep up.Its possible if the medical industry (push comes to shove) they will be able to keep up with the growth trend; however, it is unlikely their methods of keeping the players healthy will last for the players. The pain those remarkable specimens will go through to play a game will be incredible. But America must have its entertainment, so they will play on, whether that means being forced by the team doctor or by the money vacuum of a wife, it will happen.

What would be a credible solution to this growing problem? Putting weight limits on positions would help reduce the injuries in the league. Perhaps, new technology that wraps weak areas in armor or an air bubble will be created. Even more outrageously, the human component of sports could be totally replaced and the Monday Night Football we all love (and a smaller proportion that used to play) would be dominated by robots. With the problem looming over like a long lockout, there exist many solutions, but money will be the deciding factor; creating fear that the resolution will not solve the problem at all with the increased injures going on in professional sports.

Thanks, very interesting, but please give us the source of your information.

[conmanlhughes]

[/SIZE]
Thanks, very interesting, but please give us the source of your information.

http://news.menshealth.com/evolution...er/2013/01/04/

http://www.nba.com/news/survey_height_2007.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NBA_lea...ing_experience

http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2...s-nfl-injuries

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1...s-for-playoffs

[YmoBeThere]

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