Sir, – Brian O'Brien suggests comparing elderly retired Gaelic football players, who didn't head the ball, with elderly retired soccer players to see if heading the ball in soccer has had an effect on long-term neurological health (Letters, February 26th). An excellent idea.
I keep meeting retired sports people with multiple physical problems, such as arthritis in the hips and knees and with significant back problems. Perhaps a study could be carried out comparing sports people and “couch potatoes” to see which group has better skeletal health in their later years. I suspect the couch potatoes win hands down. – Yours, etc,
Dr TOM O’ROURKE,
(Retired medical
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practitioner),
Gorey,
Co Wexford.