Mind over matter How to overcome sports injuries

BY JENNIFER D’AOUST

PASSIONATE ATHLETES can usually tell you why they enjoy their sport of choice — they love competition, exercise, companionship and social interaction.

Like all good things in life, however, an active life has its risks. Whether you are a seasoned athlete or just starting out, you are at risk of traumatic injuries or overuse. An injury results in both physical and psychological consequences that can be very painful. Difficult questions may arise when you realize that a particular activity is suddenly beyond your capabilities. If I cannot participate in my favorite sport any more, am I going to get out of shape? Am I going to get fat? Will I ever be able to compete again? Denial, despair, fear and anger are all emotions we experience before we seek solutions. We wonder why the injury occurred, and we may even try to blame others.

My own experience with injury stopped me from running. This was very difficult for me because running was the activity I loved above all others. I excelled at running and it became part of my identity. My injury caused frustration beyond belief because — like most athletes in denial — I kept trying to run and was continually halted by stabbing knee pain. I wanted to scream, “It’s just not fair!”

I soon realized that this behavior was not going to help me heal. Fortunately, I met someone who forced me to snap out of it. The time had come to think positive. I began to focus on what I could do, rather than what I couldn’t do. My injury (and my return to running) left me with some ideas and strategies for coping with injury and recovery. Looking back, the injury created new relationships with people I would have never encountered in my previous circles. I developed a strong, new skill at mountain biking and I got to see a whole other side of Ottawa populated by a different group of athletes.

MAKE THE CHANGE POSITIVE

An athlete usually suffers injuries from doing his or her favouriteactivity. If an injury prevents you from pursuing your sport, use your mental and physical discipline and strength to see that adversity presents new possibilities.

Deal with the injury. Rest may not be the answer. If your injury has not improved with rest over four weeks, you may need to look into alternative treatments. Be smart and systematic about treating your injury. Many athletes suffer denial regarding the severity of the injury and try to “train through it,” or worse, do nothing.

If you are really passionate about getting back into your sport, you need a proactive health care provider who will help you get there. If your health care provider tells you that you cannot take part in your favorite activity ever again, seek a second opinion. Find a professional who has experience with athletes and takes a hands-on approach to getting you back into training, without dealing in absolutes. The body is very resilient and often responds quickly to

Coping strategies may be useful when your sport no longer serves as your physical and emotional outlet for stress. There are proactive and positive approaches for combating frustration, or worse, depression.

Ó Keep an open mind. View your injury as an opportunity to try new things, new sports and adventures. Ó Take the opportunity to spend time with family and friends who do not participate in your activity with you. Ó Take the opportunity to expand your horizons, meet people from different sporting communities, and participate in things you didn’t make time for before. Ó Enjoy the time off, and relax. You will get back to competitive shape before you know it. Ó Keep your down time in perspective; a couple months is nothing over a lifetime.

some treatments, such as Active Release Therapy (ART), or massage for soft tissue injury.

Your attitude plays a big part in whether it takes four days or four months to recover from an injury. Listen to your body, and train in a different way, because what you were doing before did not yield a positive result.

INJURIES NOT LINKED TO PERSONALITY

Contrary to popular belief, it is not necessarily the most aggressive athlete who is most likely to be injured in practice or competition. Every athlete is at risk of over-training, and can make it worse with improper rest and recovery. Stress imposed by interpersonal problems, such as difficult relationships with family or friends, can precipitate sports injuries. However, the negative effects of physical and emotional burdens can be minimizedwith a proper training plan. If you feel torn between training and personal relationships or are constantly injured or fatigued, you may benefit from a professional coach who can provide training techniques that put you back on track. Jennifer D’Aoust has competed and placed top in Canada at two consecutive Boston Marathons. She competed in Ironman Canada 2003, and Ironman USA 2004. She is a trainer at SummitForm Fitness Solutions in Ottawa and can be contacted at (613) 231-6985.