The psychological impact of injury is often overlooked. But if you’ve ever had an athletic injury, you know the feelings of fear, isolation, frustration, anxiety, and more that come and go throughout the rehabilitation process. These are common barriers for athletes and active individuals after injury, but when left unaddressed these psychological factors can limit progress in strength and function, delay return to sport/activity, and even increase the risk of reinjury.

Here are some tips to help manage mindset throughout injury recovery:

• Set realistic expectations: work with your physical therapist, athletic trainer, and physician to set realistic expectations and clear goals. This will help you monitor progress and know what you’re working towards.

• Build your team: have a team of people you feel comfortable communicating with and who you can rely on consistently. Find healthcare providers (often including a sports psychologist) you can trust and keep your social support group close.

• Be engaged in your care: take an active role in your recovery. YOU are the most important piece of the process - your opinions, goals, feelings, etc. should shape the rehabilitation process. So speak up and share your thoughts.

• Find your coping strategies: you’ve probably always used sport or physical activity as your coping strategy. During this time, try out some new strategies and see what works for you - journaling, meditation, deep breathing, etc. You can even continue to use these new strategies to help athletic performance.