Help for injured and anxious athletes inside
Jun 02, 2022 2:02 pm
Happy Thursday,
I've seen a few more athletes with injuries in recent weeks and it got me thinking, "what do they all need to know to have a successful rehabilitation?"
That answer is below.
Then I have a link to the "Secrets of Sport Science" podcast where I was recently a guest. I love educating about performance anxiety and how to overcome it, and the host Rudraniel and I really get into it.
Enjoy,
Dr Eddie
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Anxiety After Injury
I’m sorry that you are injured.
There are lots of things to be anxious about right now. So don’t feel bad or broken if you have worries like:
❓How long will I be out?
❓Will I lose my skills while I’m out?
❓Will I make a full recovery?
❓Will I lose my position on the team?
❓Will I get re-injured when I return to play?
I support anxiety after injury and throughout the rehabilitation process as a guide for questions to ask your medical team and get specific answers you can trust.
And the first question to answer is, “am I safe to move?”
This is a question you will have to ask at every level of rehab as the movements require greater range of motion, power, and/or pressure.
There is likely to be different pains with movement at each stage, so the question to ask your doctor, PT or AT is, “Does this pain signal hurt or harm?”
Hurt is to be expected. Training hurts but is safe. In the same way, you may experience rehabilitation pain that is good for you as you rehabilitate and retrain the injured muscles and body parts.
But pain that signals harm is different. It tends to be sharp and/or last after the activity is done. It may not be obvious and this is why it is critical to keep conversations around pain going with your medical team.
Know what pain to expect and endure as you rehabilitate and get back to sport training.
Know what pains signal additional damage being done, and how to differentiate the two.
Step One to reduce anxiety and begin a successful rehabilitation is knowing you are safe in movement.
If you are injured and want some help getting back in the game with confidence, let's work together.
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A Podcast for You
"What is the key to mental toughness? Should you believe everything your brain tells you? What is mindfulness? How do you shift from thinking to doing? Can you make your nervousness work for you? Elite sports psychologist Dr. Eddie O'Connor talks about the mental training of athletes, and how to befriend your anxiety and listen to it."
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Dr. Eddie O’Connor
