Running Head: Professional Athlete Lifestyles effect on Retirement

Professional Athlete Lifestyles effect on Retirement

Running Head: Professional Athlete Lifestyles effect on Retirement

Abstract
In our recent studies and research we have found multiple sources containing information
that pertains to athletes whole post retirement process. We have found the benefits in learning
how to cope with retirement and the steps professional athletes should ultimately take to increase
their likelihood of living a healthy and balanced life. Although, we have also found many speed
bumps that can be very unhealthy and affect an athlete's life as they grow older. This paper was
written to inform athletes of the precautions that need to be taken to prevent depression and other
problems as they age. Our paper is going to consist of the different aspects that athletes who play
contact sports have to deal with pertaining to the way head injuries can result in negative ways
and how to deal with these factors in a positive manner. In this research paper we discuss bone
and joint injuries, substance abuse among athletes, depression, concussions, psychology having
to do with concussions, and lastly how losing their identity as a famous icon results later on in
athletes lives.
Bone and Joint injuries
First, off among 29 football players 35 percent suffered a dominant knee injury while 55
percent suffered a non- dominant knee injury. Osteoarthritis was found in 43 percent of dominant
knees and 58 percent in non-dominant knees, this clearly shows that injuries and the problems
associated are more common in the non-dominant knee after retirement (Krajnc et al., 2010, p.
40). Premature retirement due to injury can impact the transition of retirement in a negative way.
The sudden injury will catch the athlete off guard, as they are not prepared for life after
retirement. As a result the athlete may be more exposed to a lower self-esteem, anxiety,
depression, and substance abuse which will later be discussed (Smith & McManus, 2008, p.32).

Substance Abuse

Running Head: Professional Athlete Lifestyles effect on Retirement

The opioid and drug abuse in the NFL is most common with players who have
experienced undiagnosed concussions and have had three or more injuries. Studies have also
shown that offensive linemen experience significantly more injuries than other players. Clearly
this pain has something to do with opioid abuse, as 32 percent of chronic pain patients misused
opioids, while 71 percent misused drugs during their career which then later affected them after
they retired (Cottler et al., 2011, p. 96).
In the life of professional athletes they abuse drugs for many reasons; the reasons are typically
due to treating mental illnesses for injuries as well as pain. Also, this is to help cope with
retirement from the sport, which sometimes can be the most brutal part of the retirement process.
(Cottler et al., 2011, p. 95).
Head Injury and Concussions
Head Injuries are common in all contact sports, and the side effects can remain noticeable
after the athlete retires. Repetitive injuries to the brain have been reported from professional
boxers, wrestlers, rugby players, hockey players, football players and even soccer players have
been shown to increase Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). CTE is not only found in
professional athletes but also military veterans who may have experienced repetitive head
trauma.(McKee et al., 2009, p. 2). Injuries endured during sports have been cited to lead to other
problems after retirement. Possible problems such as osteoarthritis, coronary heart disease,
stroke, cancer, diabetes, concussions, and risk of clinical depression may all lead to problems
upon retirement.(Guskiewicz et al., 2007, pp. 903).
About Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy
Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy or CTE is a term associated with the effects of brain
injury. Memory disturbances, behavior, and personality changes can all be tied to Chronic

Running Head: Professional Athlete Lifestyles effect on Retirement

Traumatic Encephalopathy. CTE is characterized by the physical damage in the brain that causes
development of microscopic 'spindle' like objects found on the cerebral portion of the brain.
Brain injuries may not always be clearly noticeable in athletes who experience multiple minor
blows to the head over the course of their career but are at a much greater risk for developing
CTE than those who have a single noticeable head injury.(McKee et al., 2009, pp. 12-13).
Biology of head injury effects on brain
Scientific evidence has shown an increase in neuronal loss in the brain due to head injury.
Neuronal loss is due to the lower production of brain cells (neurons) becoming damaged.
Damage to the brain makes it more difficult for the brain to produce neurons, which are essential
in maintaining memory. Throughout the different portions of the brains neuron loss, it has been
found primarily in the subcallosal and insular cortex with a lesser extent in the frontal and
temporal cortex.(McKee et al., 2009, p. 6).
Biochemical changes
The findings indicate that American football players are at greater risk of recurrent
concussions and clinical depression if they experience multiple concussions. This is due to the
structural and biochemical factors which have changed in the athlete's brain from enduring all
those helmet to helmet hits every year. Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) can also result in diffuse
lesions in the brain, resulting in biochemical changes because of neuronal loss and cell death
(Guskiewicz et al., 2007, pp. 907-908). Depression caused from TBI within the first year has a
common increased risk of chronic depression later on in life. Depression is also the most cited
psychological disturbance from TBI. The Centers of Disease Control knows this from their
studies of World War II veterans who have suffered from TBI and have had much higher

Running Head: Professional Athlete Lifestyles effect on Retirement

depression rates than veterans who have never suffered a brain injury before (Guskiewicz et al.,
2007, pp. 903-904).

http://www.medicaldaily.com/what-concussion-definitive-guide-understanding-traumatic-braininjury-307295
Theories of Retirement
In summary of the theories of retirement article, it states there are four theories that affect
retirement: Disengagement, Activity, Social Breakdown, and continuity. The first,
Disengagement theory states that athletes are generally forced into retirement after they have
been hanging on to the sport they love for too long. The activity theory is based on the belief that
smoother transition into retirement occurs when there is no change in the athletes activity
towards the team. The social breakdown theory correlates the athletes feeling of approval upon
leaving their career with their self-image. Those who leave feeling a poor approval are more
likely to have a negative reflection of themselves into retirement, which can later result in
depression of some sort. The final theory is the continuity theory, which predicts a difficult

Running Head: Professional Athlete Lifestyles effect on Retirement

transition that will occur with those who are deeply imbedded in their career. (Baillie & Danish,
1992, p. 89-90). Research studies have shown that different factors such as race, gender, age and
one's socioeconomic status can all affect ones retirement transition. After interviewing
professional hockey players, many of them have stated that they fear retirement. Athletes that
have retired have said; they feel much older because everyone has forgotten about them. Much
of these problems are due to a feeling of forgottenness that have lead to severe depression and
self-destruction among athletes. Multiple therapies have also been proven to treat these
depressed athletes such as leading them to value their lifestyle, needs, and personal identity. As
well as improving their problem solving skills and how deal with certain situations where they
might feel depressed (Baillie & Danish, 1992, p. 87).
Transitioning
This article is talking of preparing professional athletes for retirement because a
successful transition means a long successful life. Although failing to cope with the transitioning
of retirement could lead to a bunch of negative effects such as drug and alcohol abuse, or a
premature dropout from the sport. So in order to prepare the athletes for one of the most
challenging stages in their career, their coaches, managers, psychology consultants, etc. should
help them be prepared for this stage. (Stambulova, Alfermann, Statler, & Cote, 2009, p. 395).
4-step retirement process
The ISSP organization has a 4-step protocol they follow when helping athletes transition
to post retirement. They first study athletes from past history and where they are at now in their
post retirement transition. Secondly, they look at what other athletes have done in their
retirement process and relate it to what they did and how they did it depending on if it had a
positive or negative effect. Thirdly, they give the athletes ideas of what to do to keep them busy

Running Head: Professional Athlete Lifestyles effect on Retirement

and get their mind off of basically what they have been doing their entire life, and inform them of
future challenges they might face. Lastly, they give athletes recommendations to help them best
succeed for post retirement into the change that is best for them.(Stambulova, Alfermann, Statler,
& Cote, 2009, p. 395-396).
How college athletes felt after retirement
Retired college athletes were examined and most of them reported no significant problem
with retirement. However a quarter of them said they have experienced a lack of opportunity as
well as loss of identity. Many of these athletes felt they have missed many college opportunities
and had unfinished business with peers. Additional studies were done on non-college athletes to
compare their findings and found no differences between athletes and other college peers
(Baillie & Danish, 1992, p. 81).
Depression
Individuals with a high athletic identity at the time of their retirement experienced a
harder time adjusting emotionally to retirement. The reason for this may be because as the person
becomes more involved and committed to their sport they take on a stronger athletic identity, and
after playing they lose the self identity following retirement which causes them to experience
negative emotions (Lavalee, Gordon, & Grove, 1997, p. 138). After retirement the athletes
become lonely, as they are no longer around their teammates, coaches, trainers, and a daily
schedule, which can be a difficult adjustment for some players (Platt, 2014, p. 118).
C. Unprepared for Retirement
Transition programs for Retirement
Transition out of a career in sports has been suggested as being a difficult

Running Head: Professional Athlete Lifestyles effect on Retirement

and disruptive process for many athletes. This article talks of the various aspects of the career
transition process in sports beginning with early identification with the role of the athlete and
continuing through retirement (Baillie & Danish, 1992, p. 77). Although many post-retirement
stories have been tragic for professional athletes; multiple studies have correlated planning post
sport careers with athlete retirement success. Among the most helpful programs were seminars
and individual counseling. These programs help players plan for future jobs by teaching them
specific education, certification, and licensing based off their desired job. Athletes who remain at
work and busy show to have significantly lower depression rates (Baillie & Danish, 1992, p. 85).
3 steps to cope
The article gives you 3 steps to cope with the transition of retirement; preventive, crisis
coping, and negative-consequences coping. The preventive one suggests becoming aware of the
transition. Crisis- coping helps athletes understand how to turn the negative situation into
effective coping methods. Lastly negative-consequence coping is a result of any sort of problem
you develop from not coping well such as an eating disorder, etc. has clinical interventions that
help athletes turn their lives around (Stambulova, Alfermann, Statler, & Cote, 2009, p. 399).
being qualified to do something else
Magic makes a statement of saying when you do not get your degree from college because you
get drafted too young it can lead to your future after retirement being very stressful. (Platt, 2014,
p. 122).
E. Transitioning After Retirement
Adjustments after retirement
At the end of their careers athletes have to adjust to a totally different lifestyle where they
are no longer elite athletes but like everyone else. After retirement athletes have to restart their

Running Head: Professional Athlete Lifestyles effect on Retirement

lives with a new job, lifestyle, and new friends. During their retirement transition many athletes
feel that they have lost their athletic identity upon retirement and claim it was one of the most
difficult transitions of their life quoting it worse than past competitive athletic events (Lavalee,
Gordon, & Grove, 1997, p. 139).
What to do after retirement
This article is talking of professional athletes being the talk of the town from the time
there in high school. They are signing autographs at young ages and having their names chanted
in their high school and college arenas. Then they go to the big leagues and are still worshipped
for their athleticism. So once they come to retire a bunch of them don't have any other hobbies
because that has been their hobby their entire life. So they continue to always dream of suiting
back up and playing in another game (Platt, 2014, p. 118).
Transitioning
This article is talking of preparing professional athletes for retirement because a successful
transition means a long successful life. Although failing to cope with the transition of retirement
could lead to a bunch of negative effects such as drug and alcohol abuse, or a premature dropout
from the sport. So in order to prepare the athletes for one of the most challenging stages in their
career, their coaches, managers, psychology consultants, etc. should help them be prepared for
this stage. (Stambulova, Alfermann, Statler, & Cote, 2009, p. 395).
4-step retirement process
The ISSP organization has a 4-step protocol they follow when helping athletes transition
to post retirement. They first study athletes from past history and where they are at now in their
post retirement transition. Secondly, they look at what other athletes have done in their
retirement process and relate it to what they did and how they did it depending on if it had a

Running Head: Professional Athlete Lifestyles effect on Retirement

10

positive or negative effect. Thirdly, they give the athletes ideas of what to do to keep them busy
and get their mind off of basically what they have been doing their entire life, and inform them of
future challenges they might face. Lastly, they give athletes recommendations to help them best
succeed for post retirement into the change that is best for them.(Stambulova, Alfermann, Statler,
& Cote, 2009, p. 395-396).

Running Head: Professional Athlete Lifestyles effect on Retirement

11

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/sports/concussion-watch/what-weve-learnedfrom-two-years-of-tracking-nfl-concussions/
Lastly, after all of our research and studies we have concluded that it is not safe for
athletes to continue to play through their sports injuries. We know this study above proves that
about 50 percent of athletes played through concussions due to the association of the sport
clearing them to play. Although from our research we learned that as it might be alright to play at
the time they are not worried about the athletes post retirement health and the seriousness of the
injuries. We would like to conclude our final paper and say that we believe retired athletes have

Running Head: Professional Athlete Lifestyles effect on Retirement

References

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Running Head: Professional Athlete Lifestyles effect on Retirement

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Cottler, L. B., Abdallah, A. B., Cummings, S. M., Barr, J., Banks, R., & Forchheimer, R.
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Guskiewicz, K. M., Marshall, S. W., Bailes, J., McCrea, M., Harding, H. P., Jr, Matthews,
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1249/mss.0b013e3180383da5

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Increased risk of knee injuries and osteoarthritis in the non-dominant leg of former
professional football players. Wiener Klinische Wochenschrift, 122(2), 40-43.

Lavalee, D., Gordon, S., & Grove, J. R. (1997). Retirement from sport and the loss of
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