Student Athlete Injuries

Since volleyball started before school started, it created my first connections in the community, with this being my first year at Galloway. I was having a great season learning new skills and working hard, but at one of my practices, I landed on my leg wrong and that tiny mistake ended my season. At first all I knew was that it hurt a lot and that I couldn’t walk. I thought that I would just sit out for the rest of practice and be back on the court the next day. I came to find out I had torn my ACL, a ligament in the knee, and not only was I out for the rest of the volleyball season, I was out for any other sports for the rest of the year. I was heartbroken, and still am. I didn’t want to give up my season. 

Injuries are an unavoidable part of sports. One wrong move could put you out for the season. For many determined athletes, sports are their entire lives, their escape, and a place to show off what they are good at. Injuries kill that for them. Injuries are an athlete’s worst nightmare. 

The psychological toll of an injury can cause significant mental health issues. Some of the most common reactions that are seen from athletes are sadness, irritation, and anger. Although there will be some overlap in reaction, how athletes respond may differ; there is no right way to feel after an injury. Athletes are disappointed and frustrated, but problematic reactions that don’t get resolved or get worse over time can lead to much worse things. When players begin to isolate themselves, restrict food and calorie intake, or show signs of unhealthy coping skills, it is important for parents and trainers to acknowledge it and help the athlete get better. 

Sports injuries can vary from a minor rolled ankle to a very serious fractured Vertebrae. While athletes are healing themselves physically, many need to recover mentally as well. Even minor injuries can create serious problems when it comes to the mental health of an athlete. While their teammates are working to get better at practice and participating in games and competitions, injured athletes are stuck in physical therapy trying to recover and get back to where they were before the injury.

Currently, I am going to physical therapy twice a week to work on getting full mobility in my leg. Prior to my surgery, I would attend every practice that I could to watch and I would go to all of the games to cheer my teammates on. It wasn’t the same, but it made me feel like I was still a part of the team. I was able to give my teammates feedback like I would do on the court. It helped me cope. 

To find out more about sports-related injuries at Galloway, I talked with Katie Voris, a certified athletic trainer for The Galloway School, who has been working in this field for 20 years. She said, while working at the school this year, she has seen “8 notable injuries” so far, along with a lot of just bangs, aches, and pains that she is used to seeing on a regular basis. Some of the common acute injuries that she sees are concussions and sprained ankles. The average recovery time for these injuries would be from as short as a few days to a few weeks. Some of the more chronic injuries that she sees are tendonitis and shin splints. When recovering from more significant injuries like those, Katie says that, “the sooner [I’m] able to treat the injury, the sooner the recovery.” With the exception of a few players with more major injuries, Katie says that most athletes return to finish their season. Reactions of players who are unable to finish their season vary. She observed that if the player is a “dedicated athlete” they are devastated to find out the news. Seniors and upperclassmen tend to have more distraught reactions because they have less time left of their highschool years. Although it is still upsetting, freshmen have three more years to play. 

As athletes recover, it is important that they stay informed about their health and that they understand what is happening. Katie makes it a priority to educate the athlete and their family throughout the whole injury process. From the beginning, she explains the anatomy behind their injury so they are able to understand exactly what occurred. She believes that people with injuries that require surgery or longer recoveries “absolutely require the most encouragement and positive reinforcement throughout their recovery.” Even after athletes are recovered from serious injuries, they risk being hesitant to return to play because of fear of reinjuring themselves. They continue to need support and encouragement from teammates, friends, and family in order to be confident in themselves and their ability to play. Injuries don’t define an athlete's skill and capability. Having the mindset to be able to persevere and recover even though it's hard, shows the true strength that a player has and their dedication to the sport. 

By Caroline Cranman