The electrical substation injury theory surrounding the 49ers no longer has a pulse.
San Francisco general manager John Lynch told reporters at the annual NFL league meeting in Phoenix on Sunday that the team brought in an expert this offseason and he found the Niners are not seeing an uptick in injuries due to a structure near their Santa Clara, Calif. practice facility.
“We did hire an independent scientist,” Lynch said. “It basically was a big nothing burger. We’re safe. We’re in a safe place of work. The levels are 400 times less than unsafe zones.”
Peter Cowan — a self-proclaimed board-certified clinician — penned a report in January that speculated Niners players were sustaining significant ailments due to magnetic waves that were being released by a power plant near Levi’s Stadium.
However, Lynch said the scientist’s findings revealed that was simply not the case.
“It’s a normal place of work,” Lynch said. “It’s a normal gym. We are safe. We are healthy. And we feel really good about that.”
According to ESPN, the expert found hair dryers, microwaves and vacuum cleaners would elicit greater levels of electromagnetic output than what Niners players have been enduring.
“That was important to us. Not just turn a blind eye but to look into it,” Lynch said. “Because it’s our players’ wellness. It’s not only our players’ wellness. It’s coaches. It’s staff. It’s all that. It’s encouraging. I felt like it would be that way, but it’s encouraging that it came out in a good place.”
Lynch said the team is also making some signifcant upgrades after the organization’s training staff and training room were given a C-minus grade on the NFLPA’s annual report card.
Lynch told media members the Niners are spending $9 million on cold plunges, underwater treadmills and other things to improve players’ health and recovery. He added the team is bringing on three more physical therapists as well.
“We were well staffed,” Lynch said, “but we weren’t at the top of the league. Now we’ll be up there. That’s of the utmost importance, the health and safety of our players, the performance of our players. We’re putting everything into that.”
