We're all going to live longer!

[Sea Change]

Stumbled across this study of life expectancy for sports participants. Moral of the story is, don't be a sumo wrestler. But us yachties should be fine. Maybe explains the average age on this forum



(Research by Springer Nature. Feel free to point the obvious socio-economic factors that are probably at play).

 

[Poignard]

I am very keen on living a long life, and I see that pole-vaulters live longest.

Are there many opportunities for an octegenarian with a bad back to learn the sport?

 

[wonkywinch]

 

[Minerva]

I am very keen on living a long life, and I see that pole-vaulters live longest.

Are there many opportunities for an octegenarian with a bad back to learn the sport?

I think that sport has its ups and downs.

 

[fredrussell]

The secret is to get a bendier boat hook and use it to pole vault onto boat each visit.

 

[johnalison]

I too am keen on taking up pole-vaulting, though perhaps resuming my youth-time sport of fencing might be moire practicable. I watch sumo avidly when Grand Sumo is televised every other month and often wonder what it does to their bodies, though it is not hard to imagine.

What possible reason can there be for the early fatality of Volleyball? It is not something I would ever consider watching but it looks harmless enough, if rather too energetic for me.

 

[Poignard]

What possible reason can there be for the early fatality of Volleyball? It is not something I would ever consider watching but it looks harmless enough, if rather too energetic for me.

I seem to remember an episode of NYPD Blue where a skel shot somebody playing volley ball [or was it basket ball?]

 

[KevinV]

What possible reason can there be for the early fatality of Volleyball

Getting the tides wrong?

 

[newtothis]

I'm pretty sure for the statistic to work, you'd have to actually take part in the sport of sailing, rather than sitting around at your computer complaining about the state of sailing.

 

[Minerva]

I'm pretty sure for the statistic to work, you'd have to actually take part in the sport of sailing, rather than sitting around at your computer complaining about the state of sailing.

Oi! You almost made me splutter out my tea and stain the couch!

 

[Puffin10032]

I see targeting sports in there. I assume that includes darts which seems a bit odd to me as the only six-packs you'll see in darts will usually have a Stella label on them

On a more serious note, it's been known for a long time these top athletes don't have a longer life expectancy than the average reasonably active person (how ever you define that). There seems to be a point after which exercise provides no additional heath benefits.

 

[newtothis]

I see targeting sports in there. I assume that includes darts which seems a bit odd to me as the only six-packs you'll see in darts will usually have a Stella label on them

On a more serious note, it's been known for a long time these top athletes don't have a longer life expectancy than the average reasonably active person (how ever you define that). There seems to be a point after which exercise provides no additional heath benefits.

When I was a child, my best friend's father, a regional athletics champion, dropped dead aged about 30. I took it as a sign that physical exertion only ever had bad outcomes, and have acted accordingly since. I'm now twice the age he made it to.

 

[Bouba]

I have to assume that the pole vaulter sample size has skewed the result

 

[The Q]

I

What possible reason can there be for the early fatality of Volleyball? It is not something I would ever consider watching but it looks harmless enough, if rather too energetic for me.

I know volleyball is popular for firemen and in the military neither of which are good for a long lifespan.

In fact if you look at the tables, the longer life's sports are quite a bit weighted to those with a wealthier lifestyle.

Having said that I've sailed for 50 years but played volleyball for RAF stations for 10 years..

 

[Blueboatman]

I’ve met a fair few younger sportspeople , eg cyclists and footballers , with blown knees.
Note to self
Sailing is usually an activity. Not a Sport

 

[johnalison]

When I was a child, my best friend's father, a regional athletics champion, dropped dead aged about 30. I took it as a sign that physical exertion only ever had bad outcomes, and have acted accordingly since. I'm now twice the age he made it to.

Or, as a conspicuously unfit sailing club-mate once said, “I’ve been against exercise ever since my wife went off with her personal trainer”.

 

[Puffin10032]

When I was a child, my best friend's father, a regional athletics champion, dropped dead aged about 30. I took it as a sign that physical exertion only ever had bad outcomes, and have acted accordingly since. I'm now twice the age he made it to.

It's not unknown but from what I've read is generally caused by some un-diagnosed heart condition so unless his condition had been diagnosed in time he would probably have died at around the same age regardless of how active his lifestyle. You made a very poor lifestyle choice there.

 

[Mister E]

I heard a thing the you only get so many heart beats before it packs up. A bit like the engine hours on you boat.
So the advice was don't use up all you allotted heart beats to early.

True or not but it is a good excuse to avoid doing work the wife wants done.

 

[newtothis]

It's not unknown but from what I've read is generally caused by some un-diagnosed heart condition so unless his condition had been diagnosed in time he would probably have died at around the same age regardless of how active his lifestyle. You made a very poor lifestyle choice there.

Thank you for your very serious feedback, which didn't at all miss the joke. I will continue to ignore medical/lifestyle advice from the internet.

 

[The Q]

I’ve met a fair few younger sportspeople , eg cyclists and footballers , with blown knees.
Note to self
Sailing is usually an activity. Not a Sport

Volleyball is pretty poor for the knees as well, bouncing up and down for the ball then diving onto hard tiled floors.
My left elbow isn't too happy either.

It's not unknown but from what I've read is generally caused by some un-diagnosed heart condition so unless his condition had been diagnosed in time he would probably have died at around the same age regardless of how active his lifestyle. You made a very poor lifestyle choice there.

My heart is seemingly going part time, as yet it is undiagnosed, as I've yet to get to see the doctor, let alone a specialist.. appointment 15th Dec for the Doc.