The WHY:
Injured athletes go through a very specific grieving process, similar to one expected from a terminal illness, going through the various stages of denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. This injury can greatly impact your psychological well-being.
With college athletes, especially those playing on a more than recreational basis, the more so their identity is intertwined with their performance in an athletic role. By losing what is seen as part of their identity, the injury becomes more than something physical.
Depressive symptoms arise from the lose of a physical outlet and change in exercise schedule. When an athlete’s schedule revolves around training and preparation, and injury disrupts the sense of normalcy.
Pain experience post-surgery also affects the athlete psychologically. Anxiety is positively associated with higher pain and greater use of post-op meds, meaning that athletes with higher anxiety before their operation could face more pain and pill dependence than one with little to no anxiety.
One study has found that those with minor depressive symptoms also has 44% less tolerance to pain than someone not experiencing this mood disturbance, demonstrating how this can influence the severity of pain after surgery.
In the case of ACL reconstruction, fear of reinjury can inhibit the athlete's healing process.
With college athletes, especially those playing on a more than recreational basis, the more so their identity is intertwined with their performance in an athletic role. By losing what is seen as part of their identity, the injury becomes more than something physical.
Depressive symptoms arise from the lose of a physical outlet and change in exercise schedule. When an athlete’s schedule revolves around training and preparation, and injury disrupts the sense of normalcy.
Pain experience post-surgery also affects the athlete psychologically. Anxiety is positively associated with higher pain and greater use of post-op meds, meaning that athletes with higher anxiety before their operation could face more pain and pill dependence than one with little to no anxiety.
One study has found that those with minor depressive symptoms also has 44% less tolerance to pain than someone not experiencing this mood disturbance, demonstrating how this can influence the severity of pain after surgery.
In the case of ACL reconstruction, fear of reinjury can inhibit the athlete's healing process.