Black former NFL players more burdened by chronic pain than white counterparts, study finds
Julius Thomas: “It's important for people to understand that there's not a status, income level, or amount of money in your savings that removes the racial disparities in chronic pain.”
It’s to be expected, says two-time Pro Bowler Julius Thomas, that “colliding into other people for a living” might result in some long-term injuries. But among former NFL players, Black athletes report worse and more disruptive chronic pain than white players, according to a new study Thomas co-authored with researchers at Harvard and Mass General Brigham. The paper was published in the journal Pain this week.
The research, part of Harvard’s Football Players Health Study, used survey data from nearly 4,000 former pro American-style football players to examine their rates of chronic pain and what might be contributing to it. The analysis controlled for seasons of play, field position, self-reported concussion symptoms during active play, body mass index, and current use of pain medications. Still, data showed race-related health disparities existed even among these elite professional athletes who had access to top-of-the-line health care and other resources during their careers.
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