Sports Medicine

Emotional Involvement

It is normal for a trainer to come into contact with an athlete almost every day of the week. When this is the case, it is natural for an emotional attachment to form. It is beneficial for both the athlete and trainer to have a good working relationship, but a trainer should not let his or her emotions affect the quality of treatment given to an athlete.

An athlete's mental and emotional state plays an important role in recovering from an injury. A positive attitude can motivate an athlete to continue his or her rehabilitation and/or training program and speed up recovery time. However, oftentimes an athlete will let emotions pressure him or her into returning to competition too soon. It is important for trainers to stay emotionally detached in this respect and put the athlete's health above all else. Nevertheless, a trainer should show empathy towards injured athletes and understand the stress involved in being injured.

It is important for coaches, parents and teammates to be involved in the treatment and rehabilitation process of an athlete. When an athlete sees he or she has support, it helps to build confidence which makes it easier when returning to the field.