Football Players Health Study at Harvard University

Football Players Health Study at Harvard University The Football Players Health Study at Harvard University is a series of studies that focus on the who

The Football Players Health Study at Harvard University is a series of studies that focus on the whole player, the whole life.

The demands of football, including the cutting, blocking, and tackling that players do is a showcase of their athleticis...
07/21/2025

The demands of football, including the cutting, blocking, and tackling that players do is a showcase of their athleticism, but it can also take a toll on their joints.

We measured the frequency of knee and hip replacement in former NFL players through our first health & wellness questionnaire. Of the 3,913 respondents, former NFL players, 12.3% reported a previous knee replacement and 8.1% reported a previous hip replacement. Read more about what else we found out, and action steps you can take for your joint health: playersstudy.me/khr

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How is the Football Players Health Study different?We are the largest study to date of living former NFL players, with m...
07/20/2025

How is the Football Players Health Study different?

We are the largest study to date of living former NFL players, with more than 4,700 participants. Using this collective knowledge of former players and scientists, we are working to translate research into action, which will lead to improving the quality of life for football players.

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Your heart health is important. We know that hypertension is a condition former NFL players can monitor and manage. Curr...
07/18/2025

Your heart health is important.

We know that hypertension is a condition former NFL players can monitor and manage. Currently, our Pressure Reduction and Electronic Support Systems (PRESS) study focuses on uncontrolled hypertension.

The goal: Increasing our understanding of this manageable & treatable condition & improving quality of life for former NFL players.

Learn more by checking out our active projects: playersstudy.me/psap

"We have open conversations about health and doctor appointments. We share healthy food and always plan active time with...
07/17/2025

"We have open conversations about health and doctor appointments. We share healthy food and always plan active time with each other to stay moving."

Allyson Manumaleuna
Family Advisor, Football Players Health Study

High blood pressure, or hypertension, is a common condition in American men, including former NFL players. One of our st...
07/16/2025

High blood pressure, or hypertension, is a common condition in American men, including former NFL players.

One of our studies used a survey of 4,168 former NFL players that asked about:
- Concussion symptoms during NFL play
- Lifestyle factors (e.g., smoking, body mass index or BMI)
- Current health conditions such as hypertension and diabetes

We found out that:

- Among 4,168 former NFL players, those reporting high numbers of concussion symptoms during playing years were almost twice as likely to report high blood pressure post-career.

- The risk of high blood pressure gradually increased with more concussion symptoms, even after taking into account smoking, older age, diabetes, race, and elevated BMI.

Read our results to learn more about what this means for you & other former NFL players, including tips and resources: playersstudy.me/7j7

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Going to the NFLPA Summer Getaway? We'll be there too!Be sure to stop by our table and talk with our staff about the stu...
07/14/2025

Going to the NFLPA Summer Getaway? We'll be there too!

Be sure to stop by our table and talk with our staff about the study. You can also attend our Learning Lab: How to Protect the Health of the NFL Family Unit: Actions for Players and Their Partners, on Friday, July 25 at 3:00pm. We'll post more details closer to the weekend.

Become part of our team.Tell us about your health & unique playing experience in the NFL.We are studying players over th...
07/13/2025

Become part of our team.

Tell us about your health & unique playing experience in the NFL.

We are studying players over the course of their lifetime, examining the spectrum of health & disease that impacts their physical & mental health to develop interventions to improve health & wellbeing.

Join our team: playersstudy.me/joinps

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We're studying the health of NFL players over several years. Why? To learn about how health changes over time and develo...
07/13/2025

We're studying the health of NFL players over several years. Why? To learn about how health changes over time and develop ways to improve the health and wellbeing of former NFL players. playersstudy.me/abt

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What have we been up to? Measuring important biomarkers to learn more about the health of former NFL players.What are we...
07/11/2025

What have we been up to?

Measuring important biomarkers to learn more about the health of former NFL players.

What are we studying? Cardiovascular, metabolic, inflammatory, & endocrine biomarkers.

How do we study these? We're inviting former NFL players to submit blood and saliva samples.

What will the players learn? We will share results in real time.

Read more about our biospecimen study and other active projects: playersstudy.me/psap

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How does your unique playing experience impact your health? Many research programs focus exclusively on one health conce...
07/10/2025

How does your unique playing experience impact your health? Many research programs focus exclusively on one health concern. We are studying players over the course of their lifetime, examining the spectrum of health and disease that impacts their physical and mental health to develop interventions to improve health and wellbeing.

Become part of our team: playersstudy.me/joinps

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Research has shown that a strong personal social network can have remarkable benefits for one’s health and quality of li...
07/09/2025

Research has shown that a strong personal social network can have remarkable benefits for one’s health and quality of life.

Our research scientists mapped the networks of former NFL players. Maintaining large personal social networks is associated with longer lifespans, reduced incidence of dementia, and higher cognitive function in Alzheimer’s patients.

One possible explanation is that the team-based, fraternal culture of competitive football persists after a player’s career has ended and accompanies him for the rest of his post-football life.

Read more about our research, findings, and action items. playersstudy.me/psn

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We'll see you in a few weeks at the NFLPA Summer Getaway. Our staff will be there to chat about the study, and you can a...
07/07/2025

We'll see you in a few weeks at the NFLPA Summer Getaway. Our staff will be there to chat about the study, and you can attend our Learning Lab: How to Protect the Health of the NFL Family Unit: Actions for Players and Their Partners. Follow us for more details.

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(617) 432-5000

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