Understanding The Different Stages Of Recovery From A Sports Injury
If you are counseling an athlete who is currently in recovery from a sports injury, introducing them to Elizabeth Kübler-Ross’ ‘five stages of grief’ theory can be a big help, as it can help them understand that their thoughts and feelings are, quite simply, to be expected. This theory, which is widely used by counselors across the globe, states that most people who undergo loss of a loved one go through various stages (non-chronologically), sometimes spending more time in one stage or repeating stages cyclically. These stages are denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance. Despite initially being defined to apply to grief therapy, these stages are actually applicable to all losses – including the temporary loss of function that can occur when an athlete is overcoming a sports injury such as a tendon or muscle tear.
Why Is Injury Sometimes Similar To Death?
When you are as passionate about sport as a professional or semi-professional athlete is, being unable to train can be psychologically challenging for many reasons. A 2018 study by researchers at the University of Adelaide found that suddenly stopping exercise can result in increased symptoms of depression. Exercise, after all, has powerful mental health benefits, with many studies showing it can help battle depression and anxiety. For pro athletes, a gap in their training schedule can be even more catastrophic, since it can interfere with goals – for instance, an upcoming competition that is crucial for the advancement of their career. Athletes should be introduced to the different stages, and they should also understand that these stages are not linear (and that they do not necessarily have time limits).
Taking It Step By Step
Athletes who have had an injury will usually be recommended to rest for a specific amount of time. After this period is over, they will usually be given rehabilitation exercises to complete, which are less strenuous and more narrowly focused than their habitual training routine. In lieu of heavy weights, they may be told to complete exercises with gymnastic rings, which are good for strengthening the core and reducing spine stiffness, as well as the strengthening of the latissimus dorsi (upper body) muscles. These exercises rely on body weight to create resistance. If your client is frustrated because their workout has changed, you can use cognitive-behavioral therapy and other therapies to encourage them to make a mental shift. This in turn will help them stick to their new routine and hopefully achieve faster recovery.
Training The Mind
In addition to working out their body, athletes in recovery should also rely on natural yet powerful techniques such as mindfulness meditation, yoga, and controlled breathing to keep their mind ‘in the here and now’ – especially when anxiety about their sporting future starts to take hold. A 2018 study by researchers at the University of Kent showed that athletes in the process of sport rehabilitation can benefit from mindfulness training – which helps improve pain tolerance and awareness.
If you are counseling an athlete who is recovering from a sports injury, enlightening them on the different stages of grief – and discussing how these stages may apply to them – can help improve awareness and acceptance. Using CBT and other skills, patients can be instructed to take their rehabilitation one step at a time, with a focus on smaller, then larger goals. Mind training can also be relied upon to help boost mental strength and improve pain tolerance.
Why Is Injury Sometimes Similar To Death?
When you are as passionate about sport as a professional or semi-professional athlete is, being unable to train can be psychologically challenging for many reasons. A 2018 study by researchers at the University of Adelaide found that suddenly stopping exercise can result in increased symptoms of depression. Exercise, after all, has powerful mental health benefits, with many studies showing it can help battle depression and anxiety. For pro athletes, a gap in their training schedule can be even more catastrophic, since it can interfere with goals – for instance, an upcoming competition that is crucial for the advancement of their career. Athletes should be introduced to the different stages, and they should also understand that these stages are not linear (and that they do not necessarily have time limits).
Taking It Step By Step
Athletes who have had an injury will usually be recommended to rest for a specific amount of time. After this period is over, they will usually be given rehabilitation exercises to complete, which are less strenuous and more narrowly focused than their habitual training routine. In lieu of heavy weights, they may be told to complete exercises with gymnastic rings, which are good for strengthening the core and reducing spine stiffness, as well as the strengthening of the latissimus dorsi (upper body) muscles. These exercises rely on body weight to create resistance. If your client is frustrated because their workout has changed, you can use cognitive-behavioral therapy and other therapies to encourage them to make a mental shift. This in turn will help them stick to their new routine and hopefully achieve faster recovery.
Training The Mind
In addition to working out their body, athletes in recovery should also rely on natural yet powerful techniques such as mindfulness meditation, yoga, and controlled breathing to keep their mind ‘in the here and now’ – especially when anxiety about their sporting future starts to take hold. A 2018 study by researchers at the University of Kent showed that athletes in the process of sport rehabilitation can benefit from mindfulness training – which helps improve pain tolerance and awareness.
If you are counseling an athlete who is recovering from a sports injury, enlightening them on the different stages of grief – and discussing how these stages may apply to them – can help improve awareness and acceptance. Using CBT and other skills, patients can be instructed to take their rehabilitation one step at a time, with a focus on smaller, then larger goals. Mind training can also be relied upon to help boost mental strength and improve pain tolerance.
