LONDON -- One in four professional footballers said they suffer symptoms of anxiety and depression in a new study into the sports largely unexplored "dark side" of mental illness. [url=http://www.adidasscarpescontate.it/]Scarpe Adidas Offerte[/url] . The mental health of recently retired pro

LONDON -- One in four professional footballers said they suffer symptoms of anxiety and depression in a new study into the sports largely unexplored "dark side" of mental illness. Scarpe Adidas Offerte . The mental health of recently retired professional footballers was even more worrisome, with one in three reporting signs of anxiety and depression. Some 300 current and former professionals -- from the Netherlands, Major League Soccer, Scotland, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand -- took part in the study for the players union, FIFPro. While football can draw on reams of scientific study about players physical injuries, little research has previously been done into their mental health, and mental health problems have remained very much taboo in the sport, FIFPro chief medical officer Vincent Gouttebarge said. "There is definitely some dark side of professional football," he said in an interview. "We dont talk about mental health issues in football, or we didnt talk about this issue," he added. "Its quite a macho culture so people do not talk about it." Gouttebarge said the studys findings suggest that professional footballers are no less prone to mental illness than other younger people in the general population. He said that might surprise fans who believe footballers live comfortable, worry-free lives, with media attention often focusing on the wealth of the most successful players. "Contrary to what people think, professional footballers experience psychological problems just like other groups in the population," Gouttebarge said. Among the 180 active footballers who responded to the lengthy questionnaire, 10 per cent reported symptoms of distress, five per cent reported signs of burnout and three per cent said they suffered from low self-esteem. Nearly 20 per cent reported problems with alcohol, which Gouttebarge said could include binge drinking and regularly drinking too much, and seven per cent said they smoked. The 121 former professionals who responded on average had 12-year playing careers and have been retired for five years. Fifteen per cent showed signs of burnout and 18 per cent signs of distress. One in three reported drinking problems, 12 per cent smoked, and 39 per cent reported suffering from depression and anxiety. Gouttebarge said that could include worrying, mood swings, difficulties sleeping, feeling stressed, not being sociable or a combination of symptoms. "Mental illness seems to occur among former professional footballers more often than in current players, and more often than in other populations. Consequently, mental illness among former professional footballers cannot be underestimated and should be a subject of interest for all stakeholders in football," the study said. Retirement was "really a critical period," with players abruptly losing the structure of regular training and the support of being in a club, Gouttebarge said. "You have to find a new life," he said. "It can put you under a lot of stress." Long-term injuries and surgeries that take players out of the game and away from close, regular contact with teammates can also be factors in mental health problems. Being forced to stop playing professionally because of injury or because clubs wont offer another contract can be particularly hard to cope with, Gouttebarge noted. "This has been recognized in other sports as a huge cause of mental health issues," he said. "The guy who is willing to retire or to stop his career is really (in) a different kind of situation to the one who is forced to retire." He called the study "a good first step" toward identifying the scope of mental health issues in football. The survey is expanding to players in France and from French-speaking nations in Africa, with plans to also study players in Spanish-speaking countries and Japan, Gouttebarge said. Scarpe Adidas Saldi .C. - Steve Clifford isnt exactly singing his teams praises after the Bobcats won for the sixth time in seven games. Scarpe Adidas Italia . -- The anointed starting quarterback for the Oakland Raiders is strengthening his hold on the position this training camp instead of losing it. http://www.adidasscarpescontate.it/ . Thats exactly what happened. And they enjoyed every moment. Durant remained sizzling with 33 points, Serge Ibaka added 22 and the Thunder roared back from an abysmal start -- they trailed 22-4 early -- to embarrass the Miami Heat 112-95 on Wednesday night, erasing that big deficit out of the gate by outscoring the two-time defending champions by 43 points over a 33-minute span.ST. LOUIS - Odell Beckham Jr. has been virtually unstoppable. The St. Louis Rams could just be the team to hold down the prolific New York Giants rookie.The Rams (6-8) have not allowed a touchdown in three straight games, a franchise record. After consecutive shutouts against the Raiders and Redskins, they surrendered four field goals in a 12-6 loss to NFC West-leading Arizona last week.Of course theyre confident.I mean, its really good, defensive end Chris Long said. Its great to be a part of it. With the talent we have in the room and the coaching we have, we really believe anythings possible.St. Louis is heavily invested in a unit thats stepping up under Gregg Williams. The line, led by Robert Quinn, is all first-rounders; high-dollar linebackers James Laurinaitis and Alec Ogletree are jousting for the team tackle lead; and a young, hard-hitting secondary is beginning to jell.Larry Fitzgerald was neutralized last week with seven catches for just 30 yards. Washingtons Colt McCoy was sacked seven times and intercepted twice, and the Rams had six sacks and three picks against Oakland.The Giants (5-9) have improved recently, too, putting it together in consecutive double-digit wins after losing seven straight. Beckhams breakout has been a welcome distraction for a franchise mulling the future of 68-year-old coach Tom Coughlin.Last week, Beckham had a dozen receptions for 143 yards and three touchdowns against Washington. Despite missing the first four games, hes set a rookie franchise record for yards receiving and with nine TD catches is one shy of the franchise rookie mark set by Bill Swiacki in 1948.The sky is the limit for this guy, safety Antrel Rolle said. Rookie of the Year, Pro Bowl, you name it.Eli Manning must make quick reads, and hell be looking for Beckham. The 12th overall pick is averaging seven receptions per game, by far the most among the five rookie wide receivers taken in the first round.Were not going to try and force records for him, Manning said. But if we have good matchups, then well keep getting him the ball.Things to watch for in Giants-Rams:COUGHLINS FUTURE: The Giants upswing began before winning their lastt two. Scarpe Adidas Scontate. The last three losses in the seven-game skid were by a total of 10 points, although it included a one-point setback to 2-12 Jacksonville. Since coaching his second Super Bowl championship with New York after the 2011 season, Coughlin is 21-25.No, I dont think about it at all, Coughlin said. I focus on my team and trying to be the very best that we can be and making sure that we all combine to make a great effort. Thats where my thoughts go.Coughlin has 163 career regular-season wins, second on the active list behind Bill Belichick, but just one ahead of the Rams Jeff Fisher.RAMS FUTURE: Theres a very slight chance the home finale could be the Rams swan song in St. Louis. The team could break the lease after the season if the Edward Jones Dome is not rated in the top 25 per cent of NFL stadiums. There appears to be movement behind the scenes: Former Anheuser-Busch president David Peacock and attorney Robert Blitz, both experienced in dealing with the league, were hired to consider options that might persuade billionaire owner Stan Kroenke to stay put. Theyre expected to present findings soon.Kroenke has been mum on the subject, but a rapid-fire move back to perennial stalking horse Los Angeles would be tricky given the logistics.UNFAMILIAR FOES: The Giants have won five in a row in the series and are up 3-0 by an average score of 37.7 points to 17.7 with Manning. But this will be the first meeting since 2011, and the first in St. Louis since 2008. Both coaches referenced that, Fisher calling the Giants an uncommon opponent, and Coughlin noting former New York defensive co-ordinator Steve Spagnuolo led the Rams the last time out.HILLS FUTURE: Shaun Hill is 3-2 since recapturing the job as stand-in starting quarterback for Sam Bradford. The 34-year-old journeyman has been effective if far from flashy, but he couldnt produce a touchdown last time out and could be playing for next years backup job.Its important for us to end the season on a high note, Hill said. Thats what we have this week. Well worry about next week next week.___AP NFL websites: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP_NFL Wholesale Hoodies NFL Shirts Outlet Jerseys NFL Wholesale Cheap NFL Jerseys Free Shipping Wholesale Jerseys Cheap Cheap NFL Jerseys China Wholesale Jerseys Wholesale NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys China Cheap NFL Jerseys ' ' '