The first measure is to treat the injury medically and follow it up with rehabilitation. This sounds very easy. However, many times, we notice that injuries bring much more than just physical pain and temporary limitation in movement. The same process occurs in an athlete even when an illness occurs that severely impacts training or competitive rhythm.
In all its essence, the athlete has one focus: to win. In today’s extremely competitive world of top athletes, space is only for the best. Body load, carelessness, a resin moment, and injury all occur quickly. The impact on all the athlete’s plans depends on the extent of the injury and the ability to cope with the situation psychologically. Regardless of the type and extent of the injury, thoughts that are not victory-oriented are beginning to rotate through the athlete’s head, so psychological rehabilitation is required.
The feelings that often accompany an injury are:
- anger,
- lack of motivation.
- sadness,
- Not to worry,
- disappointment..
All these feelings keep the athlete further away from the top results. When there is anger in the athlete, there is a risk that he or she may wish to go back to training as soon as possible and further endanger his or her career in the long term due to repeated injuries. Anger may erupt in the athlete’s desire to find a culprit that can be calibrated to the athlete himself, to the adversary (often in team sports), or if rehabilitation lasts longer than expected for health and other supportive care staff. An athlete who expresses anger has trouble coping with the fact that the injury is here. Anger is not always a negative emotion and should not be removed from the list of desired emotions. When properly addressed, it can support a winning mentality that is even more important when an athlete returns to sports venues.
Psychological rehabilitation is also important!
Sadness, fear, and disappointment are usually what lend a hand to each other in an athlete’s head. No one wants to be hurt or sick, which can cause a bad mood even with a common cold. An athlete is limited to his or her season and competition calendar, and injury prevents the scheduled amount of training, so fear can arise. fear of whether he will still be able to catch other opponents who regularly train and progress during his rehab. Fear can have an impact on where an athlete sets his or her physical capacity limits even after rehabilitation.
If the athlete is unable to cope with his/her sense of fear and it is long-term, there can be a longer period of sadness and disappointment. Frustration with yourself or the world around you can greatly affect an athlete’s self-image. That damages his or her inner winner and begins to question the possibility of achieving the goal.
Book your free coaching consultation now!
An athlete is limited to a season in which he or she must show all of his or her abilities. The desire for results and the goals set are the drivers of his everyday life. Especially when the injury is more extensive and the rehabilitation is longer, the questions are often asked. What now? Is the point finished or do you continue the season? How will I get my livelihood if I can no longer compete? When such issues arise, one can quickly see a decline in motivation and the athlete’s occupation with everything other than his or her own sporting path.
The body is healed and ready for action, and the thought processes and carousel of negative emotions leave consequences. It is very important that the athlete has psychological rehabilitation at the time of injury and throughout the rehabilitation. The coach allows the athlete to maintain a winning mindset and focus. It also builds the ability to cope with these emotions and exploit them for a winning purpose.
