Sports injuries affect more than just physical health
By Olivia Morrison ‘24
Graphic by Angie Nguyen ‘24 Instagram: @leek.a.lot
Many students know the excitement of returning to their favorite sport after the off-season, getting ready to play a big game, or practicing with beloved teammates. Unfortunately, countless student-athletes also know the pain of suffering a sports injury, and suddenly no longer being able to participate in the sport that they love.
High school athletes account for around 2 million sports injuries annually, and although they can clearly elicit physical problems, they can result in serious mental effects as well.
Eliza Robinson, a junior who suffered a dislocated knee, an osteochondral fracture, and a torn Medial Patellofemoral Ligament (MPFL) this past soccer season, can attest to the idea that sports injuries are not just physical obstacles. When asked about the challenges of her recovery, Robinson stated that “the hardest part is not getting super frustrated all the time.”
She went on to explain how the recovery process and physical therapy can be painstakingly slow. Robinson is four and a half months out from her initial injury and three and a half months from her surgery, and yet is still only a third of the way through her physical therapy. This tedious process demands that athletes stay mentally tough during their recovery period.
“I have a lot more appreciation for what I could do before, and will hopefully do in the future,” she states.
Upper School counselor, Dan Petrocelli, agrees that the mental aspect of injuries can be a big part of the struggle, “most of the time people just think about the physical recovery…but there's a ton of aspects of psychological challenge involved with it” he states.
Petrocelli has spent time working as a sports psychologist at a ski academy in the past, and has learned that sports injuries are “really layered.”
There are many emotions that players may feel when they are suddenly unable to play their favorite sport. Frustration, disappointment, and boredom are common when a player gets injured, but Petrocelli explains that feelings of loneliness and confusion can also kick in.
“There can be a lot of anger, and a lot of layers of emotion,” Petrocelli states. Players wonder, “Why did this have to happen? Why me?”
Another big mental challenge that comes along with suffering a sports injury is the fear that comes with it. “People often question, will I ever be at full strength again?” says Petrocelli. As time goes on, athletes can start to develop even bigger anxieties about the uncertainty in their futures. “When you’re injured, and you really had this clear path that you were going on, all of a sudden your entire foundation is shaken.”
He also states that identity is another important piece to mention. “If being a really strong athlete is part of someone's identity… all of a sudden [a sports injury] has you questioning who you are, or who am I going to be now.”
Suffering a sports injury can cause grief which can be a unique mental challenge for athletes. Petrocelli adds that injured athletes are “grieving the loss of what has become, for some people, figuratively speaking, like a best friend.”
Emotional reactions are completely normal in response to an injury, and there is no predictable way for a person to respond because each athlete is different. However, an article from the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) states that some reactions may become problematic if their severity increases. Severe responses may lead to issues with disordered eating, substance abuse, and depression.
In collegiate athletics, the demand for sports psychologists is growing, and many schools in the NCAA are hiring them full-time to help their athletes deal with the challenges that come with being a student-athlete navigating recoveries.
The NCAA emphasizes the importance of supporting injured athletes and using available resources when going through a mentally and physically tough recovery. Many student-athletes may be resistant to getting support, however. Athletes may be accustomed to working through pain or may see seeking help as a sign of weakness. For this reason, the NCAA urges coaches to encourage their athletes to use their resources.
Robinson’s advice for recovering student-athletes is to “stay busy.” She explains that she used to spend so much time playing sports, and without that, at first the newfound free time felt daunting. But, she has adapted and found things to do outside of her sport, such as Mock Trial or the Little Library Club. “It's a way to hang out with people,” she says. “Also, do your PT.”
Along with finding some new hobbies, Petrocelli suggests athletes coping with injuries should set goals to keep up their motivation and stay healthy. Whether that is keeping up with physical therapy, or continuing to eat well, he says that recovery should become a player's “new season.”