Injury in College Athletes: The Hidden Opponent

 

Injury in College Athletes: The Hidden Opponent

Introduction: 

            We've all been there, and if you haven't, you've seen a close friend go through it. The pain of being kept out of sports participation over a sprained ankle or career ending ACL tear is enough to be sent into an overwhelming sadness. College athletes come into the season prepared to perform competitively and grow and a player and teammate. When an athlete is no longer to play due to injury, it is detrimental to their mental health and can be very difficult to sit and watch their team continue on without them. As a now former collegiate athlete, I saw more injuries than ever this year, possibly due to the Covid-19 pandemic and organized sports being on hold for so long. Athletes just want to play, especially after not having any spirts last year because of the pandemic, making this upcoming season more important than ever. As movement science professionals, we are not only responsible for the physical health of athletes but for the mental as well. In this blog, we are going to look at some resources, strategies and statistics for dealing with injuries in an athlete. 

Main Points of Analysis: 

• Higher rates of depression in former athletes who have a history of concussions in their undergraduate career
• One study sees higher rates of depression in older athletes
• Support and guidance from an athlete helps them understand their emotions while they are kept out of sport participation 

What is the Hidden Opponent? 

            Back in 2017, now former USC volleyball player Victoria Garrick gave a TedTalk about her ongoing struggles with her mental health as a Division I athlete playing in the Pac-12. If she had known then where this talk would take her and her advocacy for mental health, I doubt she would have believed it. Garrick is now the owner of the brand The Hidden Opponent, a non-profit that raises awareness for student-athlete mental health as well as RealPod, a podcast that features anyone from famous authors to Olympians opening up about all thing's mental health. 

Practical Implications: 

            In this day and age, we can look past the harm of social media our parents warn us about and put our phones to good use. There are mental health and more specifically athlete influencers on all social medias making a positive impact on the mental health crisis. Seeing Division I and professional athletes struggle with the same depression, anxiety, eating disorders and stress as athletes across all levels of play, brings about the point the mental illness is not one size fits all. Focusing more on the effects of injury on mental health means that you could take tremendous care of yourself on and off the court to preform your best but not be prepared for what's to come after an unexpected injury. This means that all the self-care face masks, and out-door walks cannot prepare anyone for the potential detrimental mental health effects following an injury. Surrounding yourself with the right-minded people can make any kind of struggle that much easier because no one should go through mental illness alone. 

For Athletes: 

• Talk to your teammates, coaches, and sports medicine staff! The more open you are the more help you can receive. 
• Sports may have at one point been your stress reliever and are now part of the stress. Find a hobby outside of sports and school that brings you peace and calm.
• You are a person outside of your sport. Remembering that you can and will have a life beyond athletics that brings you joy and happiness. 

For Coaches: 

• Initiate conversation. Being aware of the statuses of your athletes will make it easier on them to approach you if they ever feel the need. 
• Get educated. Researching and staying up to date on current sports medicine trends will benefit your athlete and program. 
• Listen to your athlete and encourage them to seek help outside of athletics if necessary. You want a healthy and happy team in the long run. 

3 Accounts to Follow on Social Media 

1. Victoria Garrick 

• @Victoriagarrick 

1. The Hidden Opponent 

• @thehiddenopponent

1. Real Pod 
• @realpod

Conclusion:

            Sports are supposed to be fun, challenging and a learning experience.
Lets keep it this way by continuing to support our teammates and athletes as sports medicine professionals. 

About the Author

Olivia is a senior at Westfield State University majoring in Movement Science with a concentration in Sports Medicine. Olivia is a four-year member of the women's volleyball team and is planning to continue her sports medicine education in graduate school. She can be contacted at oelie0223@gmail.com. 

References 

Clement, D., Arvinen-Barrow, M., & Fetty, T. (2015). Psychosocial responses during different phases of             sport-injury rehabilitation: a qualitative study. Journal of athletic training, 50(1), 95-104,                         https://doi.org/10.4085/1062-6050-49.3.52 

Kontos, A. P., Covassin, T., Elbin R J., & Parker, T. (2012). Depression and neurocognitive performance              after concussion among male and female high school and collegiate athletes. Archives of physical             medicine and rehabilitation, 93(10), 1751-1756 https://doi.org/10.10.1016/j.apmr.2012.03.032 

Vetter, Rheba E; Symonds, Matthew L Correlations Between Injury, Training Intensity, and Physical and             Mental Exhaustion Among College Athletes, Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research: March             2011-Volume 24-Issue 3-p 587-596