There is no surprise that with sports comes injuries. This could lead athletes to experience their sport in a different point of view than what is normal to them. At least one athlete in each sport offered at Kelly Walsh, has been affected by the hardships that come with injury.
Senior Dylan Miner, knows first hand how difficult long term recovery is. He has had knee problems in his left leg since eighth grade. He endured an ACL tear and two meniscus tears. He ended up having a total meniscus removal because of all of the damage.
“I would say that the rehab process was very hard on my mental health. It was difficult to see all of my friends continuing to do the things I loved, but was unable to do,” Miner said. “Having to sit on the sidelines and watch just drained me emotionally.”
Sophia Ferguson, a junior at Kelly Walsh, also has battled with injury. Ferguson tore her ACL her freshman year and recently has been working with a stress fracture on her foot.
“It definitely did affect my mental health. I feel like I couldn’t really do anything. It was very hard when I had to do rehab and everything because it took so long. I felt extremely unmotivated at times but also I just wanted to get better and get back to my sport,” Ferguson said.
With injury it does not only affect the playing time but it also affects how one mourns the person they would be if they were not to be injured. To read more about the affects injury has on athletes look here.
Not everything that comes out of injury is negative though.
“It taught me how to be more appreciative of the things I had and was able to do before my surgery,” Miner said.
Being injured could give one the opportunity to slow down and see the court, field, or mound in a different perspective. It can make some aware of their body and how it needs time to recover, or even give athletes mental toughness when returning back to sports. Look here to read more about the positive side of injuries.
Being an injured athlete can affect ones mental health. It gives one a sense of jelousy that is not always on purpose. However, it can provide positive aspects as well.
