Mentality plays a critical role during the injury recovery process. The key is to be patient and persistent to get one’s game back. Otherwise, one might under- or over-adhere during their rehabilitation, and, as such, these behaviors further delay the recovery process.
Athletes can look at recovery from an injury as just another physical challenge to defeat. In fact, the same mental skills and strategies that are helpful for winning on the field should also be used to excel in the training room. For example, deep breathing helps to facilitate the healing process by calming the mind and relaxing the body.
Visualization is a powerful technique that helps athletes to mentally stay in the game when placed on the injured reserve list. Specifically, they can “see and feel” themselves making great plays on the field during games, and running through the same drills their teammates are actually doing in practice. Mental rehearsal helps to keep one’s physical skills sharp.
In sum, athletes must use their head when injured in order to get their game back — and they will get that game back.
Dr. Jim Afremow is a sports psychology expert and the author of “The Champion’s Mind: How Great Athletes Think, Train, and Thrive.” Follow him on Twitter @goldmedalmind.
