The quiet impact of injury on athletes

Portrayals of sports injury in the media depict images of athletes devastated after being injured or feeling the ecstasy of a comeback. There is little representation from behind the scenes of teams of professionals supporting athletes for years, hoping to maximise their performance over a few days.

Healing from an injury is almost never linear as setbacks are common and can put huge pressure on the mind and body. Sam Cook, Team GB member for powerlifting ruptured a disk in his spine and discussed the emotional impact it has had on him.

‘There is so much more to the sport than just spending time in the gym.

Most of my life is encompassed by powerlifting, so when I got injured last year I was left with a void. My reason to get up every day for years had gone, as well as the desire for the things around it – the nutrition, the sleep, the rehab.’

‘Psychologically I would try to make the client understand that rehab isn’t about trying to be pain free but is about management, tolerance – to remove hesitancy from exercise and change their perspective.’ This pragmatic approach adopted by strength coach Jasper Campbell-Crocker, appears effective as the highest ranked emotions when athletes encounter injury include frustration, anger and having fear of re-injury.

Cook also expressed the positives after being injured, that you ‘appreciate the small wins’, having an injury free sessions are ‘not taken for granted’. He explained that he is vemotionally attached to the sport, which can be detrimental when things go wrong, but have a hugely positive affect on his mindset when things go right.