Your mental Toughness and Returning From an Injury
Coming back from athletic injury is an experience laden with intense emotions…
An injured athlete returning to competition will run through the gamut of both positive and negative emotions:
Fear – worry of re-injury is the most common emotion of injured athletes. The thoughts of re-injury or how the injured body part may hold up can be problematic for the returning athlete. Being overly cautious can result in re-injury.
Excitement – The excitement of being back to competition after a layoff is typically intense. Being hyped up too much can set the stage for a disappointing return.
Anxiety – Camiseta Selección de fútbol de Argentina Nervousness can interfere with a successful comeback and the ability to focus on just playing the game and focusing on the process.
Impatience – Sometimes, the injured athlete will expect to return to their previous level of play even though the athlete may not have the optimal level conditioning or practice. This can be a big source of disappointment for the injured athlete.
Pressure – A much anticipated return to action and not wanting to let teammates and coaches down can considerably alter the injured athlete’s successful return to competition.
Apprehension – Some injured athletes will be overly cautious and apprehensive due to the possibility of experiencing pain in the previously injured body part and potential long-term damage.
Uncertainty – questions of performing at the same level of play or regaining their status Camiseta Nagoya Grampus on the team can be a remarkable hurdle for some athletes.
Happiness – After a long break and successful rehab, the extreme delight of being back is a terrific and accomplished positive emotion.
All emotions affect your recovery and performance.
Negative emotions can increase muscle tension and affect how you breathe.
If these emotions are not check in check, not only can your performance suffer but there is an enhanced chance of re-injury.
Dealing with emotions is just what Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz needed to do in his return to competition after a nine month recovery from two broken knee ligaments.
Not only was the rehab physical and mentally taxing, Wentz admitted that his return to action will filled with intense emotions.
WENTZ: “It’s been a long time coming. It’s been quite the grind of an offseason. There’s a lot of excitement, a lot of built-up anxiety over when it was going to be that time, and practically relief finally being cleared to get back out there… There’s going to be a lot of emotions going on. but once the game starts, it’s just a football game.”
In the end, Wentz was able to manage his pregame and game-time emotions to lead the Eagles on a game-winning, 17-play drive that consumed 11 minutes, 18 seconds in the fourth quarter.
To manage emotions after an injury, realize that your first competition back from injury is no different than any other game.
By normalizing the game, you can focus on the process of playing which minimizes muscle tension and mental clutter and allows you to play to make a successful return to action.
Emotions and Returning From an Injury:
Controlling negative emotions is key.
To keep your emotions in check, focus on your pregame routine that you followed prior to your injury.
Let go of any expectations about performing terrific when you return.
Build your confidence one day at a time. You won’t have exceptional confidence best out of the gate. Be client and earn your confidence one day at a time!
For much more techniques on controlling your emotions and staying composed when returning from injury, check out our audio and workbook program, “The composed Athlete”:
Learn mental game techniques to improve Composure in Sports!
If you’re an athlete who wants to learn how to stop performance anxiety quickly, be poised, calm and in control during those “critical moments”, learn much more about The composed Athlete!
Powerful techniques for learning a composed mindset can be developed, but you should first strip away the mental ball and chains that avoid you from having instant composure when you need it.
How much better would you carry out if you have total confidence and composure to carry out your best in crunch-time?
The composed athlete CD and workbook program consists of 2 audio CD’s that include 14 days of composure increasing exercises and a easy to follow workbook that guides you through each of the 14 days, helps you apply the strategies, and customizes the exercises to your personal crunch-time challenges and dealing with pressure.
How do you develop maximum composure and become a crunch-time performer?
In “The composed Athlete” you’ll learn:
How to model Camiseta Selección de fútbol de Costa Rica your optimal composed athlete
How to identify the particular mental breakdowns that impede your composure
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Break through fears and ineffective beliefs that keep you stuck in a comnull