When an athlete gets injured on the field, the focus is how it affects the team. However, what’s not taken into consideration is how it affects the athlete, both physically as well as how it affects the athlete’s mental health. Viewers may only see the loss of the team’s lineup. But what isn’t considered is what happens being sidelined or missing out on games. Injuries can not only affect a player’s physical health, but can also disrupt dynamics, training schedules, and a player’s mental well-being.
For many athletes, sports are more than just physical activities. When someone gets injured, that sudden shift from being physically active can be hard to manage and accept. Even small injuries can create frustration and make a player feel concerned about being behind.
During a regular sparring session, Casa 12th grader and Mixed Martial Arts athlete Leo Carreno threw a side kick and received a check that immediately felt off. “I couldn’t train for two whole weeks,” he said. To most people, two weeks might not seem like much, However for an athlete, it throws off their routine entirely.
Though his injury wasn’t formally diagnosed by a medical expert, he was greatly impacted by it; he found it hard moving in his day to day life. As time passed by, he reported how discouraged he was starting again. In a sport like MMA, raw strength, stamina, and repetition are required to stand out. Having to be patient, he felt demoralized.
Returning to the sport early could’ve caused more harm than good. With the legs keeping the body up, sparing or even practice could worsen the injury or could put the body at risk if malpractice with the body’s form occurs. Even for more minor injuries, proper recovery is necessary for the body.
Carreno, having to accept this, stepped back from sparring. Even though he found it “annoying” that he had to stop, he knew it was the right decision. Proper rest is exactly how to treat injuries for long-term health.
Even short term injuries like these can stop momentum in someone’s progress. Minor injuries frequently occur and slow down people’s progress. It is hard to want to stop, especially at minor injuries. In more competitive environments, it’s encouraged to continue even with minor injuries. In sports and activities, it’s hard to have to pause from it.
