The Comeback: Getting Back in the Game After an Injury

As athletes, the last thing we want to do is to have to sit out a game or even practice due to an injury. Our main goal is to contribute our talents for the betterment of the team, to play every possible minute, run every race, or compete in every event. Unfortunately, in the lives of many athletes, dreams are put on pause due to an injury. There is no certain reason that we become injured, even the best have suffered injuries throughout their careers: Michael Jordan, Sanya-Richards Ross, Derrick Rose, Bo Jackson...and the list goes on.

In the spring of my sophomore year of college, I was in a bad car accident. A semi-truck driver went left of center and hit my little car, spun me out, and ended up over top of me. I survived, but ended up suffering a severe concussion. This injury left me with no choice but to withdraw from my university to heal, which also required me to redshirt for a season for the track team. It has been over a year and a half later, and I am just now getting back into track full time, with the hopes of making up for the time that I have lost!

With that being said, it has not been easy to get where I am today when it comes to my health. Coming back to a sport from any injury is tough. A brain injury is a little different because it can do more damage than just physical or things that we can see. During my healing process, I continually had complications arise when I thought I was ready to come back. The process was long and hard, but I made it through, and am writing to you today as a successful college student-athlete.

Dealing with an injury is different for everyone because there is a lot of issues and different types of injuries that one can endure. From my experience, there are a few general tips that I would like to touch on for easing back into a sport after an injury.

1. Don't Push It!

Many athletes are so anxious to get back into competition, that they push too hard, too fast while putting the long-term effects of their injury into the back of their minds. Sure, you can tape your ankle up in a good enough way that allows you to put enough weight on it to compete, but waiting the extra few weeks will not only help your ankle, but help you help the team. No matter how much you may not want to hear it, you are a better asset to the team at 100% than you are at 75%.

2. Listen!

Do the exercises your trainer recommended, take the vitamins your coach told you about, and wear the brace that your doctor prescribed to you. If you feel the regimen that was given to you is not helping, ask, before you stop it at your own leisure. Do whatever you can to heal by listening to the best ways from those licensed to give you the information. Doctors and trainers went to school to do just that: get you back in the game! Even if this means missing a couple practices, or even practicing a little bit differently, LISTEN. Listening and sitting our a few months, is better than not listening and sitting out the rest of your career!

3. Stay Positive!

When dealing with a physical injury, many fail to realize that the mental aspects are jut as important. Being worried about coming back, and worried about your performance is not going to drive you to heal. Focus your energy on healing from the injury, not on the sport and other circumstances surrounding it. The sport will always be there, but your window for proper healing will not. Your mind needs to be positive that you will heal, and focused on how to heal.

Dealing with injuries as an athlete can be devastating. The journey back is difficult, and may cause you to want to throw in the towel. Just remember to have patience, listen to the authority figures who are guiding you back to health, and stay positive. While the reality is that most athletes will face some type of injury, I hope this article never applies to you, and wish all of our readers many healthy seasons ahead!

#Coaching #Athletics #Injuries