Mindset: key injury rehab tips to enable athletes to return to full fitness

The most important factor of performance is using the mind in a positive, efficient and creative way. However, what happens if that is taken away through injury?

It’s hard, but the only way to sustain successful recovery is hard work, support, self motivation and a belief you can attain your goals.

Psychological performance: the mind has a role in responding to injury, the impact on rehabilitation and the effective return to full fitness is fundamental. Attention must be paid to an athlete’s mindset. An absence of mental rehabilitation can have an adverse effect when returning to full fitness.

Several key ways to aid athletes along the road to recovery.

• Keep perspective: positive/focus

Surround yourself with positive people. Accept the injury and understand what you must do to enable your recovery. It won’t hurt when the pain goes, therefore, focus on the present and the future. What do you need to do and how are you going to get there? Prioritise and do the most important things first, build a solid foundation to succeed and have a clear and well communicated vision to keep moving forward to return to full fitness.

• Rehabilitation program: stick to your plan/adapt

Unique to every athlete. Session by session. Step by step. Day after day. It hurts, it’s hard, but it builds strength and flexibility, imperative for recovery. In mind and in body.

• Become a better athlete: personal challenge/evolve

Injury can provide other opportunities to strengthen key areas of an athlete’s body. Core. Stamina. Technique. Power. Speed. State of mind. This enables you to endure hardship, to increase motivation and to figure out ways to improve, as a person and as an athlete.

• Redirect energies: be creative/goals                                                   

Find something to focus on and that you care about. Personal projects. Career goals. Music. Post career opportunities. Charity work. Build a brand. This helps increase your focus during your recovery.

• Stay involved in sport: options/ideas

Do not become distant. Keep connected. Perform your recovery work when the team train. Help other players recover. Help the coaches and management team tactically (this will also help you learn and understand more about the game). Helps increase motivation, positivity and community.

• Watch sports: positive projection

Messi hat-trick: https://youtu.be/EAYxE5eqT_s

Curry 3 pointer: https://youtu.be/8a13a13mMhE

Jordan all time 50: https://youtu.be/LAr6oAKieHk

The Mind - learning: https://youtu.be/JTs8LsYnupU

• Prevention: one life                                                                                                           

Your body is your tool. Look after it. Learn about it and design a plan to maintain a positive and healthy lifestyle. Planning, perseverance and preparation will enable you to develop, strengthen and understand how you can prolong your career.

• Nutrition: fuel/growth                                                                                             

An athlete’s physiology is unique and the food we consume has an entirely different impact on our body. What works for one, doesn’t work for another. Your dietary requirements will differ during rehabilitation, therefore, gain access to accurate nutritional information to create an internal environment for your body to repair, thrive and work at its optimal potential.

Andrew Greenwood is the Founder and CEO of AEG Sports, a Sports Performance and Mindset Consultancy. He advises players, athletes, clubs, creators, businesses and agencies. For enquiries you can contact him on Twitter at @aegsports_ on Instagram at @aeg_sports and email him at [email protected].