Beyond the Pitch: The Invisible Battle of Injured Athletes
It would have been an unwelcome familiar feeling early last Saturday afternoon for Liverpool midfielder Diogo Jota, when a pain shot from his knee as he landed. He knew immediately something was up. Athletes know their own body better than anyone.
Until this point, much like the games he’d played since returning from his last injury, he had been in scintillating form. He had delivered on the heightened expectation upon his arrival to the pitch that day, providing the assist for Liverpool’s opener. He departed on a stretcher before half time. But it’s not just the physical pain he would feel. It would have been the immense frustration, fear and general dejection that would have stayed with him long after the painkillers had kicked in, the medical support staff had left and the stadium lights turned off.
As I followed the match updates on the BBC Sport app on Saturday, one fan comment in particular jolted me from my scrolling. It simply said: “If it wasn’t for Jota’s injuries, he’d be one of the best players in the world”. It hit me to my core as it resonated with one of my favourite quotes from a paper on burnout by David Feigley way back in 1984 that encapsulates a primary driver of mine for researching sport injury for over 20 years; The biggest cost of injury is the lack of unfulfilled human potential.
Looking at Jota’s injury history, he has had 13 injuries since the 2015/16 season, 6 of which are since joining Liverpool in 2020/2021, which has forced him to miss a huge 64 games at Anfield.
Unfortunately stories like this are increasingly all familiar. Take Jack Grealish who has been warming the bench for most of the season, was called into action the week prior for a Champions League match only to have his game also cut short in the first half with a groin injury. Again I can’t even imagine how he must have felt finally getting the chance to compete and do what he loves for his body to let him down.
Injury rehabilitation for a player starts the second they leave the pitch and it’s absolutely not just physical.
There needs to be a better understanding of the psychological impact of injury. Especially in an environment like elite sport, where competition for team places is fierce. What steps can be taken to ensure the wellbeing of injured players, which in turn should also help them more quickly return back to their best when fully fit. And often it’s the little things, but they take conscious effort and planning.
Things like ensuring attendance at the same mealtimes as the first team, where possible including them in meetings and team talks, even if the nature and time of their physical rehab is unknown. If there is a non-physical session planned, making sure they attend and actively looking for ways they can contribute to group discussion and share ideas.
A plan should be developed so it’s ready to support the person physically and psychologically from the moment they get injured, through treatment, rehab and well past their first few games back.
No matter whether it’s a team or individual sport, a professional sports person’s identity is aligned to competing in their sport. Take that away through injury and you also take away a core sense of who they are. Practitioners need to make sure they’re mindful of this and take steps to mitigate such risk.
A player needs the support of those around them when they’re injured more than ever. Like the promise of any strong relationship, it’s about being there for them in sickness and in health.
