All good and competitive athletes who play sports for a living suffer from some kind of injury at some point in their career. Some are more serious than others. Some are rather simple injuries that take just a matter of a couple days for that athlete to heal whereas there are many other injuries that can take weeks or months. There are also some injuries that athletes never truly recover from and they are never the same because of a serious reoccurring injury. Therefore, athletes should take good care of themselves and receive the proper treatment in order to be able to stay in the game. Recovering from a sports injury requires much more than simply relaxing while the body heals. Athletes who want to get back in the game as quickly as possible must have a plan for their recovery and mentally prepare themselves for the challenges ahead.
Keep their Head in the Right Place
An injury can take quite a toll on an athlete’s psyche especially if it is a serious or a debilitating injury. For example, if a basketball player breaks his leg or tears his MCL, ACL, or meniscus, they seemingly become more cautious than they have ever been before. They fear if they will ever be able to play at the same level ever again as many athletes who suffer serious injuries like this are never usually quite the same as they were before the injury. The most competitive individuals often find themselves frustrated and potentially even depressed at the prospect of losing their edge.
For those who are feeling especially angry or stressed, creating a recovery timeline is an excellent way to see tangible progress. As athletes start to physically recover, it may be a great idea to go through physical therapy if needed to help build back the lost physical strength, and perhaps more importantly, the confidence that may have been lost in the process. Bottom line, it is important to take it as slow and as easy as possible until the athlete’s comfort level is high enough to start ramping things up to the next level. If recovery is rushed, it could cause physical setbacks and they could be confidence breakers as well.
Be Honest With Doctors and Coaches
The last thing that an athlete wants to do is lie to their doctor, coach, or teammates about their injury. Lying will not only delay the treatments, but there is a very good chance that they will make the situation much worse. It is especially important for all injured athletes to be honest if they experience any neck pain, severe headaches, dizziness, or confusion. These are all signs of a concussion or brain damage.
Have a Support Group
Depending on the serious nature of the injury, athletes should have a support group available to help out with their recovery whether it be a family member, spouse, or a group of friends the recovering athlete may need someone there to help them with various things. It could be as simple as helping them in and out of bed, with exercises, or just being someone there to sit and talk with them. Support groups are great confidence boosters for athletes.
Don’t Avoid the Doctor
We all hate to get bad news, but avoiding doctors and other medical professionals will only increase the athlete’s risk of additional injuries. Athletes who regularly meet with a clinic such the Boise sports injury specialists of Tadje Orthopaedics will be given specific instructions on how they can speed up their recovery without putting their health at risk. These medical professionals can also monitor the athlete’s progress and help them make sure that no issues will take place later on in their career.
Train Smart
No athlete wants to suffer any setbacks. There will come a time when the athlete is ready to get back on their feet, but it is vital that they take it slow and pay attention to any signals that their body is giving them. Stiff muscles and minor aches are completely normal, but a sudden burst of pain could be a sign that they are not ready to play quite yet. A great way to ease them back into the sport is to focus on their form as much as possible. By doing this, they will continue to improve their skills without putting their body at risk.
A serious injury can be heartbreaking, but no one needs to sit around and hope for the best. In most cases with a little hard work, all athletes can get back to their best once again. Hopefully, these few tips will help athletes get back to training and back in the game as quickly as possible with the right mindset and attitude.