Sports Injuries: Getting Back on Track after a Major Injury

By | May 8, 2015

recovery from sports injury

There’s something about the adrenaline rush you get when you’re playing a sport that can’t compare to other activities.

Whether you’re simply playing around with friends and family members, involved in a community or workplace sporting event, or you play sports professionally, having the talents to play a sport while others cheer you on can be a lot of fun. However, as you know, with the game of sports, there is also a chance for injury.

Whether it’s a contact sport like football, or a sport like tennis or baseball, getting injured is possible, and often very challenging to deal with – both physically and emotionally. 

While getting back on track might be an uphill battle, having a plan in place can make things a lot easier to manage. Below are a few suggestions on how to do this:

Educate Yourself on the Injury

Healing from an injury is often easiest when you understand exactly what’s going on. When you can understand the injury better, you can make more informed decisions as it pertains to your recovery.

While your doctor may have given you the rundown on your injuries, it is a good idea to do a little more research on your own. Ask question, and reviewing articles from reputable medical/sports sources.

Accept Physical Therapy as a Process

If you’re used to being the MVP, it can really put a damper on your ego to find out you need to go to rehab. While you want to get better, sometimes the idea of having to re-learn the basics can be overwhelming.

Be that as it may, you need to understand that in order for you to get back to your old self; you need to go to rehab to complete the recovery process. The sooner you can accept rehab as beneficial, the better off you’ll be.

Debunk Your Fears

When sports injuries are really bad, getting back on the horse can be more challenging than you think. Many athletes fear becoming re-injured again. This could be damaging both mentally and physically. Therefore, it is important for you to face your fears head on.

To do this you will need to first pace yourself. Realize that you can’t return to your full responsibilities on the field/court the moment you’re cleared to play again. It takes time. The second thing is to realize it’s only temporary (in many cases). Though no one wants to get injured, if you realize that in time you’ll be able to play again then injuries won’t scare you as much.

Set Small Goals

In correlation with the above solution of pacing yourself to get over your fears is to set small goals. Setting small goals that will help you reach your optimum performance can help to build your confidence. Goals provide motivation and can also help you to measure your progress a bit more closely.

It is important however, to set SMART goals (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and timed). Setting goals that are too farfetched will make you feel a lot more discouraged and can often slow down your road to recovery.

Understand that Setbacks can Occur

When you set certain goals for yourself and you don’t meet them, it can be hard to deal with. Maybe you were hoping to be back in the game within a few months, but your body isn’t healing properly or your doctor won’t clear you to play. Whatever the problem is, it is important to understand that setbacks do occur.

The best way to deal with setbacks is to have a plan in place. Sit with your doctor or physical therapists and come up with solutions to help you improve over time. This might mean more trips to the rehab, more pain management techniques, or in some cases, more time.

Get Support from Others

When you’ve been injured and are prevented from doing the very thing that you love it can get downright depressing. To avoid further mental health issues, it is ideal for you to gain the support of others.

This can be support from your family members, or even better, someone from the sporting community that understands your passion and now frustrations. Having someone to talk to, work out with, and relate to can make recovery go by faster than you imagined.

Seek Counseling from a Sports Psychologist

Recognizing signs of depression, PTSD, and chronic stress are imperative to your overall state of being. If your injury has really got you down in the dumps to the point that your quality of life has been minimized, it may be time to find a psychologist who specializes in sports therapy.

Sports psychologists are the perfect mental health professionals to go to in your time of need. They have the necessary training to help you get through any frustrations and fears, while also having the tools and comprehension to motivate you into being the best that you can be. As the mind and body work best as one, taking care of your mental health is equally as important as taking care of your physical health.

No one ever plans to get hurt, but when it comes to playing sports, it is often an inevitable occurrence. Whether your injury is major or minor, it can have a great impact on you both physically and mentally as you strive to recover.

By following the above mentioned tips, you are sure to have no issues in getting through the worst of your injuries and getting back in the game in some capacity. When all else fails, remember a kind word can go a long way in motivating you towards greatness.

    References:

  • Kannus, P., Parkkari, J., Järvinen, T. L. N., Järvinen, T. A. H., & Järvinen, M. (2003). Basic science and clinical studies coincide: active treatment approach is needed after a sports injury. Scandinavian journal of medicine & science in sports, 13(3), 150-154. study link
  • Taylor, A. H., & May, S. (1996). Threat and coping appraisal as determinants of compliance with sports injury rehabilitation: An application of protection motivation theory. Journal of Sports Sciences, 14(6), 471-482. study link

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