A practical view of soccer injuries [proceedings]

In the conditions I have described, the psychological traumas as a result of injury vary markedly, but the common element is that emotional factors outweigh cognitive or intellectual factors. The role of those involved in rehabilitation is to instil in the mind of the sportsman a realistic appreciation of the prognosis of the injury and thereby inhibit the development or persistence of counter-productive emotions. As with the injury-prone athlete, the coach, the doctor and the physiotherapist should attempt to understand the individual rather than considering and treating an injury per se. In the more extreme cases, it would be an obvious advantage to the injured sportsman if all those with a vested interest in his complete recovery cooperated and pooled information in order to make the treatment phase more effective. At the least, this will be to the long-term benefit of the reckless and the over-cautious sportsman.