Editor’s note: This is the first in a three-part series on Bearden student-athletes recovering from and trying to prevent serious injury. The second installment will be on the shifts in how athletes recover from ACL tears, and the final will be how Bearden student-athletes are applying sports science to minimize injury risk.
In the arena of sports, where victories are hard-earned and limits are constantly tested, long-term injuries can happen even to those who are cautious.
These injuries are life-disrupting traumas that can redefine the future for athletes. The battles these athletes face are not just on the field, but in rehab centers, doctors’ offices, and within their minds.
Many athletes at Bearden have had to navigate this journey and learn ways to stay involved and engaged with their sports and their teams despite not being able to play on game day.
One of the hardest parts of the recovery process for many is going to every practice and tournament without being able to play. This is a mental challenge for many athletes who have been playing their sport for most of their life.
“While I was hurt, I felt sad and a little bit stressed out for the upcoming years,” sophomore baseball pitcher Michael Lubiani said. “I’ve gone to every practice and every game.
“Even over the summer, all the travel tournaments in Georgia and Alabama, I’ve gone to.”
Lubiani sustained an injury last season and has been out for the past seven months.
“I fractured my growth plate in my right elbow in three different places, and the piece of bone that my UCL (ulnar collateral ligament) was anchored to that was connected to my elbow was fully off,” he said.
Sophomore basketball player Ella Bush faced a 10-month setback when she tore her ACL and part of her lateral meniscus. Bush describes how it was important to stay close to her team during her recovery.
“When I was hurt, I felt included but still distant,” she said. “I was there for everything, but it still hurt not being able to be a part of the actual sport.”
Sophomore baseball catcher Eli Pickard has a stress fracture in his foot, a result of the constant demands of his position.
During Pickard’s time away from the sport, his teammates have continued to cheer him on. Pickard said starting catcher Jack Fennell was worried about Pickard’s return.
“He complained to me, he’s like, ‘You gotta be better by this season,’” Pickard said.
Despite mental challenges during the recovery process, physical challenges are especially difficult.
“It really hurt, and I thought I either pulled something or it fractured,” Pickard said. “I’ve never felt that pain in my foot ever, even when I fractured my foot before.”
Lubiani’s biggest concern during recovery has been getting back to the same level he was before the injury.
“Just getting my elbow back to what it used to be and having the same range of motion has been a challenge,” he said.
The daily routine of injured athletes is drastically different from their normal schedule. Diet restrictions, physical therapy, and many other injury-specific procedures are implemented into the recovery process. Athletes have to be careful in their everyday activities to not aggravate their injuries.
Physical therapy plays a vital role in an athlete’s recovery. The attention and focus physical therapists give to each athlete is important. Learning to be patient and gain back strength is a daunting task for athletes when all they want to do is get back to their sport.
Stress is an often-overlooked component of an athlete’s recovery process. Athletes often feel pressure to recover quickly and return to their sport without it hindering their skill.
While stress was minimal for Bush, she was mostly weighed down with anticipation.
“There was a lot of anticipation, waiting to see when I could walk without crutches, when I could get on the bike, when I could start running, and when I could start playing again,” she said.
Added Lubiani: “It’s been pretty stressful. I got hurt freshman year, and we’re in sophomore year, but my coaches are very optimistic about me coming back and being better.”
Recovering from a sports injury is difficult, both physically and mentally. Athletes show resilience by adapting and pushing through those challenges. Support is key to getting back into the game and helps to build back athletes’ confidence and mindset.