Fitness of former D1 players

[Anonymous]

Was reading the other thread on D1 v. D3 and it got me wondering about the long term consequences of playing "harder" athletics in college. I have a very limited pool of anecdotal stories to draw from, but three (3) former players I know have told me that they were "still paying the price of playing D1 sports". They had injuries that were still acting up 10 years after they played, and two of the three have definitely lost their fitness (and gained quite a bit of weight).

Has there ever been a study on the fitness levels of former college athletes vs. their classmates, say 10 years on from graduation? Any other former players who have some stories to tell about their current fitness, and whether playing an organized team activity vs. individual fitness training has kept them more fit in the long term?

[Anonymous]

I know a former D1 women’s soccer player and yeah, her knees are shot.

[Anonymous]

Long term injuries here. Friends who did not play in college are much more able to work out than I am. I don't have student loans, for what it is worth. I paid with my knees.

[Anonymous]

I’ve heard that the training/game schedule is brutal during the D1 season. Can anyone off an opinion as to whether, from a physical standpoint, playing pro soccer has a similar long-term effect on the body?

[Anonymous]

The pros have a much more intense schedule, but they probably have a more extensive fitness and training (treatment) schedule than a college student dashing to classes and exams, but no studies that I know of. Would be interesting to find out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The pros have a much more intense schedule, but they probably have a more extensive fitness and training (treatment) schedule than a college student dashing to classes and exams, but no studies that I know of. Would be interesting to find out.

Pros have a longer season and more games overall, but college programs try to cram a lot of games into a short time routinely playing 2 or more games per week, which increases likelihood of injuries due to insufficient recovery time.

[Anonymous]

I was D1 in a not injury prone sport. My Dad was D3 in football. He faired far worse than me.

[Anonymous]

My brother was a D1 soccer player followed by a few years of professional soccer.

He had no knee or ankle injuries, but he now has arthritis that flares up pretty bad at 51.

My sister destroyed her knee.

I came out unscathed. I took up running pretty heavily in my mid 20s-early 30s. Now at 49 I ha e horrible tendinitis in hamstrings/piraformis. This seems specific to running though. They don’t hurt walking or doing other forms of e ercuse- cycling, weight lifting. I just can’t run as far and only a day or two a week or the back of my legs licknup.

[Anonymous]

*lock up

[Anonymous]

Husband a D1 athlete and no injuries that bother him. He is also more focused on nutrition and health than the average person. I think there are benefits to being a lifelong athlete.

[Anonymous]

I was D1 in crew. DH was D3 in soccer.

My back and shoulder was shot for awhile and I had major surgery on both before I was 35.

I put on weight with kids/being injured and dh did as well. I'd say my body bounced back faster and it was easier for me to be more intense with the goals than DH.

[Anonymous]

I played hard core sports in college ( scholarship D1 college) and never got injured just sore all round. I have a small frame and there’s never been issues with my joints/tendons. My family is also very athletic playing several ball sports and no issues as well. It also boils down to many different factors like genetics, body composition and body frame