Written by J. Fan
Edited by Alyssa Balandran
Over the past years, It has become evident that sports injuries are a main cause of many athletes experiencing symptoms of mental health disorders. Recent studies have shown that musculoskeletal injuries within athletes have caused higher and more intense rates of major depression and mental illness symptoms (Marconcin et al. 2023) in athletes more than ever. The importance of the psychological effects experienced by injured athletes is overlooked, and many suffer from poor mental health without knowing how to deal with it.
First, we must understand that one's ability to play their sport and perform at their best is part of their identity as an athlete and is as vital to them as water is to life. For athletes, the physical and the mental aspects of performance are connected in the sense that taking away one of the two would cause detriment to the other. This unique relationship proves to be a useful tool, but also an impending weakness among elite athletes. On one hand, the close relation allows for one to enhance the other in a positive feedback loop. Take, for example, a wide receiver “A” who runs a great route and makes a good reception. Because the relationship of his physical performance naturally dictates his mental state, receiver “A” now gains the confidence to continue being decisive and making plays. In a contrasting situation, receiver “B” who runs a more lackluster route is covered by the defensive back and is the reason his quarterback is sacked. Receiver “B” now loses confidence and begins to perform even worse.
This seemingly simple example not only shows that physicality and mentality come hand in hand, but also that the psychological component in sports is vital to how an athlete will perform. In the case of injured athletes, they are completely deprived of their physical ability to play the sport and as a result, are subject to higher percentages of psychological and emotional fluctuation. One study executed in a sports medicine center in Gothenburg, Sweden, saw input on the varying percentages of depressive symptoms experienced from nearly 700 patients suffering from a specific musculoskeletal injury (Piussi et al. 2022). Physical therapists and medical doctors concluded that depression symptoms were reported in up to 34% of ACL tears and upwards of 45% in general musculoskeletal injuries. Furthermore, it was found that screenings of depressive symptoms were found more common in professional athletes than non-professional athletes. Even with the top athletes receiving more access to physical and psychological health professionals, it turns out they are still affected the most. For this reason, it is important to understand the importance of how injury can affect your mental health.
As a competitive soccer player myself who has gone through extensive injury, I can personally attest to the statement above. 7 months ago, I re-injured my right ankle, a weak spot of mine for the last 2 years. Therapy wasn’t extremely tough to complete, and in 5 weeks I was cleared without any major effects in my mental state. I made my return halfway through the season and began to find my rhythm. This, however, would not last—during my third game returning from injury, I was fouled, lost balance, and dislocated my shoulder in my landing, tearing a substantial part of my labrum. I was rushed to the hospital, was released, and a few days later, was given the news that I would be unable to play for six months.
During the first six weeks of my injury, I began to experience symptoms of depressions such as dissociation, as well as loss of motivation. I was forced to live without soccer, which had been a vital part of my routine every day, whether that involved training, eating well, or active recovery. This proved to be a challenge in school as I began to see my grades slip as well as my participation in social activities. Especially so, my desire to play the sport I loved began to diminish.
I recently attended an online seminar about how to “perform at your best” hosted by college soccer recruiting coaches and Sports Psychologist Michael Bouchahine. I posed a question to Dr. Bouchahine asking about how an athlete should deal with psychological effects of extensive injuries and periods without play, and he gave me a few steps that might help athletes counter the psychological downsides of injury. First, he told me to shift your focus to the controllables: instead of dwelling on things that already happened, focus on what you can do to speed up your return, such as resting or rehab. Second, he told me to treat your return like you would your sport. Rehab and rest is extremely important, and returning to full physical capacity should require effort and concentration. Third, you should think about your identity and what makes you you. You might be an athlete some parts of the day, but think about what other parts of your life define you.
Tips on Dealing with Injury from Sport
Focus on the Controllables
Take your recovery seriously
Think about other things that make you who you are
While these tips are helpful to many, be reminded that these steps are not a quick fix or a complete remedy to psychological effects experienced through injury. True psychological struggles last and can only be satiated with a full return. If you struggle with mental performance problems, I challenge you to perform these steps in hopes that your hurdles might seem a little easier.
Fan is a high school student with a keen interest in how neuroscience and psychology tie into athletic performance. A dedicated soccer player aspiring to play in college, he has attended the National Student Leadership Conference on Neuroscience and Psychology and is launching a club focused on performance optimization and mindset training. Inspired by our organization's work, Fan is eager to contribute and grow in this field.