Sport injuries can be devastating to an athlete. Coping with them includes both physical and emotional healing. Not only can an injury result in very painful physical set-back, but many sports injuries can leave an athlete with a damaged psyche as well.
Elite athletes often have their sense of identity wrapped up in competitive sports and gain a tremendous amount of self esteem, confidence and empowerment from competing at a high level. When serious injuries force an athlete out of competition they often experience tremendous grief and a sense of loss. If an athlete doesn't have the appropriate support resources, this grief can become a serious depression.
The first step in rebounding from any injury is to get immediate treatment for the physical trauma. An athlete who suffers any accident or injury should get appropriate first aid in order to prevent further physical damage. The treatment required could range from simply taking a break from the game and resting, having a complete medical evaluation with a professional, or racing to the emergency room.
Knowing the warning signs of a serious injury can help guide your immediate treatment decisions. Pain, swelling, weakness, reduced range of motion, numbness and tingling, or an obvious physical deformity, such as a dislocation or fracture, all require professional medical treatment.
But what happens after the physical injury is treated? Healing often requires more than simply addressing the broken or bruised body part. Athletes can suffer tremendous psychological trauma from physical injuries.
Being side-lined due to an injury can be devastating for someone who may have his life and identity centered around being active and playing sports. Taking time off to heal and facing any physical limitations can lead to a downward spiral of emotional distress. But there are ways to treat the emotional pain of sports injuries that allow an athlete to rebound mentally as well as physically. Here are some tips for addressing the psychological trauma of a physical injury.
Tips for Repairing a Broken Psyche - MORE FROM - Elizabeth Quinn @aboutcomhealth
Top tips poster - HERE to download
