As Schmidt passed into the denial stage, her right knee became worse. There was frustration, depression, and even anger when they told me I needed surgery. But, after going through all the stages, and getting the help I needed, I now accept the fact and am working for next year. No matter how the stages and emotional responses are defined, the handling of individual athletes' rehabilitation programs becomes critical. Unfortunately, too often the psychological aspects are not part of the rehabilitation program.
Sports psychology is a critical part of bringing any athlete back from an injury.
Coaches and trainers alone cannot assess what works for each athlete. Both the psyche and the body must be examined, treated, and eventually mended. As medical equipment and sports medicine become more sophisticated, athletes are more confident than ever that they will be physically ready to return to competition in a short time. Consequently, a team approach with several physicians, psychologists, family, athletic trainers, friends, coaches, and teammates can make significant contributions to an injured athlete's recovery. Doermann BS'89 is a freelance writer in Salt Lake City.