For many injured athletes, coming back from a severe sports-related injury can be a terrifying ordeal. Their doctor and PT have cleared them, but they experience fear of suffering another injury. This fear can be debilitating. These fears can complicate their return to play. Many suffer from confusion, anxiety, anger, shame, fear, and guilt. Why do they feel so bad if their doctor and PT cleared them to play? Many feel something is wrong with them if they don’t come back confident and in a reasonable frame of mind.

I talked with a soccer player who suffered a strained ACL. The injured athlete took time off to heal. When they returned to play, they were terrified. They were afraid of injuring their knee again and played with anxiety, fear, and apprehension. They did not play all out, and their hesitancy was apparent. It grew worse with each game. As their anxiety and fear grew, they became more emotional during the games. It was evident to everyone watching that something was wrong.

They decided to wait to come in and see me to work through their fear, anxiety, and hesitation.

A few weeks later, I spoke with the parents of the injured athlete. They told me that during the last game, their athlete had re-torn their ACL. The field was in poor condition. Their fear of reinjury was intense. They were crying while trying to play soccer. They ended up in a fight for the ball and re-injured their knee. My heart sank when they told me this part of the story.

Too Many Sad Stories

I was on the sidelines of a football game watching a running back who had torn his ACL the year before. He was hesitating as he ran and favored the injured knee. After the game, I told his coach that he was going to suffer an ACL injury to the other knee if he did not get help with the trauma from the first injury. The following week, he tore his other ACL.

I watched a game on television and observed hesitation and apprehension in an offensive lineman who had injured his left knee the year before.

I turned the game off at halftime. A few days later, I called the athlete’s athletic trainer and mentioned that I believed this lineman was heading towards an injury to his other knee. He asked me why I felt this way. I told him what I observed while watching the game. He said that was interesting and that the lineman had torn his other ACL in the fourth quarter of that game.

Is the Wrong Message Being Sent?

A local sports writer interviewed an athlete whom I helped overcome a horrific knee injury about his miracle comeback. When the writer asked what this athlete did to make such a profound comeback, they said it was due to a strong attitude and mindset.

The article didn’t mention all the hard work they had done mentally and emotionally to overcome the trauma they suffered while injured and unable to compete. I believe this athlete did a disservice to other athletes who are trying to overcome the trauma and the mental and emotional blocks that stand in the way of a “100%” recovery. They sent a message to other injured athletes: all you have to do is maintain a strong mindset, and everything will be okay.

This message can have a profoundly negative impact on athletes who are struggling to get back mentally and emotionally. It can create doubt and confusion and erode self-confidence. Many athletes never find their way back from injuries because they can’t overcome this cauldron of powerful emotions.

The New Way Back From Injury

I was watching a game on TV recently. An athlete I helped, who had recovered from an ACL injury, was having a great game. It was apparent they were confident, in command, and had no fear of reinjury. The commentator said it was evident that this athlete was back physically but also mentally. My wife, who was watching with me, asked me to replay his comment. We listened to it again, and she said, “Someone gets it.” This commentator could see from the way this athlete was playing that they had fully recovered psychologically from their injury. Not just a physical recovery.

I wish I could have helped the young soccer player before they suffered a completely torn ACL. I wish I could have helped all of these injured athletes I mentioned. Treating the traumatic nature of sports-related injuries puts the athlete back in charge and rids them of fear, anxiety, apprehension, depression, and self-doubt. They return to play mentally stronger, free of fear of reinjury. Their attitude and outlook improve. They come back wiser and more mature. Their authentic personality is restored. This wisdom and maturity permeate all areas of their lives. They learn a lot about themselves and grow from the process of coming back.