Launched in 2014, the Football Players Health Study is a research program at Harvard University that aims to evaluate and improve the health and wellbeing of former professional football players like you. Read more about us.
Thanks to the more than 4,800 former players who have already participated in our first health and wellness questionnaire (Q1), we are gaining a clearer picture of player health, learning which conditions and injuries impact you most. Our Playing, Living, Aging, and You: In-Person Assessments (PLAY-IPA) Study reflects these initial findings and focuses on several areas of health: cardiovascular function, neurocognitive health, physical function, and sleep.
For this study, former players will participate in a series of head-to-toe evaluations conducted at Morehouse School of Medicine and Emory University. The goal of these assessments is to gain new insights into these specific health domains, while improving our overall understanding how playing professional football can both protect against — and advance aging — in former NFL players. PLAY-IPA will compare the health and wellbeing of former players to their non-professional football-playing brothers.
Participation is limited, and not all who qualify will be able to participate. Participants must have completed our first health and wellness questionnaire (Q1) and be between 30 and 55 years old. Further eligibility requirements must be met during the screening process to participate.
Former players who qualify will be asked if they have a brother between 30-55 years old who did not play professional football and may be interested in also participating in the PLAY-IPA study.
If you have questions about eligibility, please email the team: inperson@footballplayershealth.harvard.edu
As a PLAY-IPA participant, you will travel to Atlanta for two days of in-depth analysis of your health, focusing on areas that impact former players:
Accompanied by members of our study team, you will visit the Morehouse School of Medicine and Emory University campuses. The Morehouse School of Medicine team, with our assistance, will coordinate your travel to Atlanta and all your accommodations – food, lodging, and transportation. Read more about the study experience, including information about the assessments and hotel.
Your participation is greatly appreciated by our team and your community.
Participants will go through two days of clinical & research assessments including:
Details about each of these assessment can be found in the Study Experience tab.
After participating in PLAY-IPA, you will receive personalized information about your health. A study doctor and nurse will provide a report of your clinically relevant results after your visit, if you wish to receive it. It’s important to remember that results related to these evaluations are focused on research and are not meant to diagnose health problems. While the testing may be similar to testing for diagnosing a medical condition, these results are different. If you choose, you will be able to share these results with a healthcare provider for further guidance and interpretation. Shared results include:
When you have completed the study visit, we will give you any results that may have a direct impact on your health. However, it is important to remember that the aim of this study is not to provide clinical care. The primary goal of this study, like any research study, is to obtain information to answer research questions. It is not to provide treatment for a clinical concern, which is the role of your doctor or medical team. If you have further questions about the difference between research and clinical care, please do not hesitate to ask our research team.
Compensation
You will be eligible for up to $1,200 in compensation for your time. All study-related travel, meals, and lodging are also paid for by the study. Participants will be given a meal stipend of $170 to cover two breakfasts at $15 each, two lunches at $20 each, and two dinners at $50 each.
Please review our consent form. It is important that you fully understand the study assessments and expectations. If you are selected to participate, we will review the consent form in detail with you before we begin any assessments. Please reach out to our team if you have any questions about the consent form.