Can you give an estimate of how many injured athletes you see per season?

 

With confidentiality through SMU or any organization I work for, I do not personally discuss specific numbers out of respect for those clubs and school. Obviously being a part of a college I see more injuries than the smaller teams I work with. I have thankfully only been around a few where it ended their playing career.

 

What is the most common reaction you see from these seriously injured athletes immediately following the injury?

​

Working in both collegiate and the professional level and the difference between men and women can lead to different reactions. Some feel angry right off, rightfully so. Some are overwhelmed with fear and questions of the unknown. Some are motivated to do whatever is necessary with the process and ready to come back.

 

How would you assess these player’s mental health from a few days until a few weeks post-injury?

​

Again, working in different settings I will see different reactions at time. I would say overall there is a feeling of being in a “rut”. Tired of doing the same routine over and over day after day. Especially if the injury is a very long recovery. It requires more motivational talks, sticking to our plan, keeping them accountable.

 

How would you assess these player’s mental health as time passes after a couple months?

 

There are no cookie cutter individuals. I have seen athletes determined with the right mindset to stick to the process no matter what and do the work no matter how long it takes. I have seen others motivated at the beginning and then sink into a depression because it can be lonely, fear of reinjuring, not being as good as before etc. I have seen others that can not seen to get out of the negative space and its super hard for them to see any sort of promise.  

 

What is the biggest mental roadblock you see these athletes recover from their injury? (Can you see what causes most of their frustration? 

 

It's not “feeling” the same when they make their come back. So an athlete has knee surgery and then is cleared to play lets say soccer and when they do their drill/footwork they say it doesn’t feel just right. That’s most common of what I hear.

 

If you did give these athletes advice in terms of coping with their injuries, what advice did you give and how effective was it?

​

I am big on having a plan. If you have no plan, then you’re bound to feel lost. A plan that includes their rehab work, but also a mental routine. We work a lot on plans and sticking to them, and readjusting them as needed. Its imperative to have goals and direction and almost like a road map to where you want to go and how you are going to get there.  

​

​

​

Top 3 Recovery Tips

 

1. Plan…and someone that helps you stick to that plan.

​

2. Accountability.

​

3. Self Care… time to get out of your head and find something (besides your sport) that brings you joy.  Think outside the box…get outside of the sports box. Spend time with friends, focus on something for yourself for the future, get around a support system.