Can Playing Football Make You Shorter?

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/109024.php

            Most of the articles I have read in the past have dealt with the positive aspects of exercising and healthy eating habits. I have not looked at the possible negative effects of certain exercises or sports. I stumbled across an article entitled “Can Playing Football Make you Shorter?" written by the American College of Sports Medicine, the largest sports medicine and exercise science organization in the world.

            The article was about how football players may actually experience a temporary loss of height due to the added weight of the helmet and pads as well as the repetitive blocking during a game. According to previous studies, an average person’s height may be reduced as much as one percent during the course of a day. This is caused by gravity that compresses the spine, which is referred to as “creep.” Researchers have studied how the protective equipment worn by football players can accelerate the creep phenomenon.

            For the study, researchers looked at 10 high school football players. These players were selected based on their positions (ones that endure repetitive loading on the spine due to blocking and tackling) and expected playing times. Each player’s height was measured before and after the game by a certified athletic trainer. The researchers discovered that the average height of the football players before the game was 176.56 centimeters, and the average height after the game was 175.81 centimeters. Brian J. Campbell, Ph.D, came to the conclusion that the height of high school football players decreases by almost one centimeter during the course of a game. He believes that the decrease is due to high-impact compressive loading on the spinal column and the compressive forces of the weight of the protective equipment.

            Even though each football player’s height decreases by only one centimeter, I feel that this decrease in height is very significant. I do not believe that this only applies to football players, but it applies to everyone. I heard that when a person sleeps, he or she is unconsciously growing as the spinal column straightens out. During the course of day, due to walking and normal everyday activities, the spine is compressed and the person is slightly shorter than he or she was when waking up. Although the person does not perform the extreme exercises of a football player, the height is still decreasing. After reading this article, I am convinced that this type of exercise can possibly stunt an individual’s height if it is done day after day. When dealing with Darwin’s survival of the fittest, we are accustomed to classify those who are fit as those who are taller, bigger, and stronger. Even though football players are getting stronger, they are not necessarily getting taller, which means that one dimension in their fitness is at a halt. Also, this study somewhat reminds me of Stephan Jay Gould’s theory of “rewinding the tape.” I feel that many random factors contribute to this decrease in height. The decrease in height is caused by a combination of the weight of the pads and the excessive blocking. As well as those aspects, I also believe that fatigue can also be another factor. Being a basketball player in high school, I get absolutely tired after each game. Because of this fatigue, I find myself slouching after a tough game, which can cause a decrease in height. Many small factors can contribute to the outcome.