Altitude Hurt Godwin?
October 1st, 2020
Climate changed.
Joe isn’t doubting this could happen but how wild would it be if this was the cause of Bucs wide receiver Chris Godwin getting hurt?
When Godwin blew out his hamstring Sunday in Denver, many Bucs fans, frustrated with yet another hamstring injury, were up in arms. Some called for the immediate dismissal of the team’s strength and conditioning staff.
Several upset fans pointed to dehydration. Now there is no doubt dehydration can be a root cause of muscle pulls. This is well known. But could the high altitude of Denver have indirectly caused Godwin to suffer another hamstring injury?
Bucco Bruce Arians isn’t sure. But he certainly did not rule it out.
Appearing last night on “Late Hits,” co-hosted by Alex Marvez and Bill Polian, heard exclusively on SiriusXM NFL Radio, Polian asked Arians about the Bucs dealing with the high altitude of Denver.
This seemed a strange question to Joe since the Bucs won the game easily. Arians quickly began talking about Godwin’s injury.
Bill Polian: I’d like to get your take having gone there [to Denver]: Did the altitude in Denver, you know, with no offseason, did that have any play in the game, did it affect anybody? Or did you get out with no problem?
Bucco Bruce Arians: I hope it didn’t affect Chris Godwin. He was in great, great shape. And then he had a hamstring. You never know about the altitude as far as dehydration and all the things that go into it. We thought he was in great shape and even during the game he had great numbers and then all of a sudden he pulls. So that was really the only one [injury]. No one really got tired. It was a very nice, cool day so that helped a bunch too.
So after hearing this, Joe ran off to Google and typed in “dehydration at altitude” and came up with a ton of medical links, including a research study conducted by Harvard. Sure enough, the body dehydrates much faster at high altitudes.
And here is an excerpt from an article about dealing with high altitudes from something called Hydrapak.com:
According to the Wilderness Medical Society, your body loses water through respiration at high altitude twice as fast as it does at sea level. High altitude hiking, running, backpacking, and biking can also make you need to urinate more often and can also stop your thirst response, increasing your risk of dehydration. Remaining hydrated at elevation is a serious task. The Institute for Altitude Medicine recommends drinking extra water daily when at high altitudes, and if going above 10,000 feet to also increase your intake of carbohydrates.
Joe knows the Bucs have paid close attention to hamstrings this year because of their rash of hamstring injuries last year. Arians stated that due to the number late last season, he is convinced he may have worked some players too hard.
Arians, a huge believer in sports science, has leaned on it this summer and fall to resolve the many hamstring injuries the team has dealt with the past two seasons.
As for Godwin’s status, Arians said, “I think he is definitely out this week. … The swelling has gone down and it is one of those things that is wait and see.”
October 1st, 2020 at 7:49 am
It May be 2 weeks, before we get him back
October 1st, 2020 at 7:51 am
Fact check….the stadium has an elevation below 10,000 more like 5280 ‘ (1 mile)
October 1st, 2020 at 8:08 am
Maybe…..but there are many things that can cause a pulled hamstring…..mainly bad luck. Some players have more of an issue with it than others….
I’m not buying the altitude hydration one.
October 1st, 2020 at 8:17 am
When Ungodly stretched across the end zone line to break the plane and score 6, he could have injured his hamstring very easily. He always gives 100-plus %. I’m glad BA knows this and is letting him heal. If he misses the Bears game, so be it. BA/BL have plenty of healthy TEs they can play.
October 1st, 2020 at 8:18 am
i was 1 of the fans that questioned the strength and conditioning staff….
guess i’ll back off a bit…lol…
GO BUCS!!!!!
October 1st, 2020 at 8:26 am
The altitude problems in Denver is a real thing. First time there, we got off the plane from Florida and were totally winded before we made it to baggage claim….hydration is key
October 1st, 2020 at 8:34 am
Godwin will come back and be a Pro Bowl candidate by season’s end.
October 1st, 2020 at 8:38 am
Hamstrings are tricky. I don’t know if it’s the same leg, but I have as a former hockey player I had many teammates pull the same hammy multiple times. I have also read research that indicates if you pull a hammy even after it heals you’ll have about a 1 and 3 chance of re-injuring it. It can be a complex issue. Hopefully not for Godwin.
October 1st, 2020 at 8:45 am
becoming injury prone just saying
October 1st, 2020 at 8:56 am
Ahhh google medical searches. Gotta love it when that’s the opening statement. The next best is “I learned on Facebook…”. That said, hydration at elevation, including 5000ft is actually important. Colorado is extremely dry and it’s very easy to get dehydrated while acclimating. We could go into respiratory alkalosis and fluid balance at altitude but that’s too much for a morning post. It could absolutely have played a role. Perhaps missing off season workouts and trainer management also plays a big role. Is it the same hamstring as last year?
October 1st, 2020 at 9:33 am
Maybe. Maybe not. What’s the Bucs condition, especially Godwin, moving into Sunday?
October 1st, 2020 at 10:49 am
Glad Licht didn’t pay Godwin after only one great season.
October 1st, 2020 at 12:12 pm
Now I’m curious. I wonder if that brutal travel schedule of the Bucs was a factor on hydration. Any flight that reaches 36k feet has a cabin pressure between 6.000 and 8,000 feet. Couple that with some inflight booze (which further dehydrates you) and you have more snapped hammies?
Hhhmmmm….
In BA I Trust!
October 1st, 2020 at 12:49 pm
Yup, that’s why you’re advised to drink more water when you go to Denver or similar high altitude places.
I thought this was common knowledge?
October 1st, 2020 at 2:45 pm
The “altitude” causing Godwin’s hammy. That’s rich coming from a team which is setting records on number of hamstring injuries. But don’t dare blame the trainers, the conditioning coaches or the players themselves for not taking stretching exercises seriously. Whose fault would that be? The coaches’. This is similar to BA’s throwing his offensive players under the bus rather than his unimaginative and stubborn gameplaning. I lose more respect for BA which each passing week.
October 1st, 2020 at 3:04 pm
If I at age 60 can fly into Denver every September on a Saturday and hike a 14er on Monday, I really don’t think playing at 5,000+ feet is going to have much effect on a mid 20’s professional athlete – at least it shouldn’t.
October 1st, 2020 at 8:21 pm
When Evans and Godwin both had hamstring injuries last year, that was a hint for you do something about it. Strength and conditioning is the reason why the hamstrings are failing You run these receivers deep at top speed underconditioned, what do you expect?
We need strength and conditioning for the whole team if you plan on making it to the end.
GO BUCS!!!