The Battle with Sport Injuries

Sports injuries commonly affect the day to day lives of those who put out a product in their professional sport to fans worldwide. These injuries range in severity, from minor sprains and strains to more serious fractures, dislocations, and concussions, leading to even more devastating injuries. The consequences of these injuries extend beyond just the physical toll, including the impact of the psychological and social aspects of an athlete’s life. An injury is not simply a hurdle that you can jump over, but an obstacle that many face as inconceivable or nearly impossible to conquer.
Load management being a major reason behind athletes missing games from injuries have significantly changed from era to era. According to Shaun Powell, a source from the NBA proclaimed, “Between the 1990s to today, the average number of games missed per season by those defined as star players rose considerably. In the ‘90s, it was 10.6 games. In the 2020s, it’s 23.9 games.” (Shaun Powell, NBA) In totality there are 82 games in an NBA season, leaving the number of missed games by star players at almost 25% of games, a staggering amount. Load management is a precaution taken in the case of a physical injury that takes drastic measures to ensure the severity and impact of one’s injury. Load management can be for torn ligaments, pulled muscles, or torn muscles. Kawhi Leonard, one of the NBA’s biggest superstars suffers an immense amount of injuries throughout the basketball season and is heavily critiqued based on his absence on the court. Baxter Holmes, A senior writer at ESPN, describes Kawhi Leonard’s response on the critique towards load management stacked up based on injuries, “But if the league is seeing or trying to mock what I did with the Raptors, they should stop because I was

injured during that whole year. But other than that, if I’m able to play, I’ll play basketball. I work out every day in the summertime to play the game. So, no league policy is helping me to play more games.” (Baxter Holmes, ESPN) The immediate physical consequences of sports injuries often include pain, swelling, and limited mobility. For instance, minor injuries such as sprains may lead to vulnerability in the affected area, increasing the risk of re-injury. More severe injuries, like fractures, can necessitate prolonged recovery times and even surgical interventions. Over the long term, untreated injuries can result in chronic conditions, including arthritis or persistent muscle weakness, which adversely affect an athlete’s ability to compete or engage in physical activities. Proper treatment and rehabilitation are critical to mitigate these physical repercussions and promote a safe return to sport.
The psychological effects of sports injuries can be as significant as the physical ones. Athletes often experience a range of emotional responses, including anxiety and depression, particularly following severe injuries. The fear of re-injury can lead to decreased confidence and motivation, impacting an athlete’s performance and willingness to participate in their sport. Additionally, the process of recovery can be mentally taxing, requiring not only physical healing but also psychological support to manage the emotional burden of being sidelined. In relation to the psychological effects a sport injury can have on a player, Ben Simmons, a former all star and all NBA player has seen an absolute shot in confidence from his past instance in Philadelphia. Since being traded to The Brooklyn Nets, Simmons has had 23 different types of injuries he’s had to face on top of his confidence being questioned. CJ Holmes, a journalist for New York Daily News, exemplifies the lingering question of Ben Simmons confidence, “Ben’s got touch in the paint, he has to finish at the rim,” Nets head coach Jordi Fernandez said. “I want those

attempts to 10 to 15 attempts per game, because when he does that, he’s very aggressive in the open court and when he touches the paint good things happen.” (CJ Holmes, NY Daily News) Ben Simmons is at a career low with Brooklyn in statistical numbers in points, assists, and rebounds after ruling his way out of Philadelphia on par with one bad performance during the NBA playoffs that caused the city of Philadelphia to attack his character. Chris Ryan and John Gonzalez, journalists from The Ringer attack Ben Simmons’ mental approach on a crucial game with, “How do you describe Ben Simmons in the playoffs? He was a boat captain looking for an iceberg. As the Sixers sank against the rising Hawks, Simmons finished the series scoring 19 points over the final three games. He was petrified to finish at the rim and frozen in carbonite at the free throw line. It all culminated with about three and a half minutes left in the fourth quarter of Game 7, with the Sixers down two points. Simmons had the ball on the block, put Danilo Gallinari through a turnstile, and had nothing but the rim and the faint suggestion of some Trae Young help defense between him and motherfucking destiny.” (Chris Ryan, John Gonzalez, The Ringer) Mental health being intertwined with physical health certifies its effect on a professional athlete like Ben Simmons by showing how perceptions of people change the dynamic of an athlete’s further approach to the game that they love. The relationship between mental health and physical recovery is crucial, as emotional distress can prolong the healing process and hinder rehabilitation efforts.
In the social world, sports injuries can lead to a sense of isolation for athletes who may miss out on team activities and events during their recovery. The Henry Ford Health Staff conversed with Dan Pillow, a clinical/sport psychologist on the issue surrounding isolation during a major athletic injury, “It’s not uncommon for injuries to fuel feelings of isolation, frustration, anxiety and even depression,” says Dan Pillow, Ph.D., a clinical/sport psychologist

with Henry Ford Health… Missing out on competition can affect your emotional well-being, social well-being, and your self-concept or identity.” (Dan Pillow, Henry Ford Health) Suffering from a physical injury comes along with the magnitude of social impact in terms of feeling the sense of isolation and guilt of setbacks towards a team. Social withdrawal can occur as athletes grapple with feelings of inadequacy or fear of losing their place on the team. Furthermore, significant injuries can impact an athlete’s future opportunities, such as scholarships or professional contracts, leading to increased pressure and stress during the recovery period. In 2019, during NBA free agency superstar Kevin Durant was a free agent, making it possible for anyone to negotiate and sign him if both parties agreed. However, Kevin Durant had just come off of a torn Achilles he suffered during the NBA finals against the eventual champion Toronto Raptors. Kevin Durant’s top offers at the time were max contracts from his former team, The Golden State Warriors, and his eventual team that he signed with being the Brooklyn Nets. In the midst of all of this, The New York Knicks had the opportunity to advertise their reasoning to sign with them and offer a max contract and yet, “The New York Knicks were not prepared to offer Kevin Durant the four-year, $164 million contract he eventually committed to with the Brooklyn Nets because of concerns about his recovery from his Achilles injury, league sources told ESPN.” (Ramona Shelburne, Adrian Wojnarowski, ESPN) Injuries like a torn Achilles that take longer than usual for a successful rehabilitation disturb the value on once in a lifetime talent (in this case the example being Kevin Durant) and perceptions on athletes navigate quickly as, “their thinking changed after Durant’s injury, which is likely to keep him out all of next season.” (Ramona Shelburne, Adrian Wojnarowski, ESPN) With the social impact being included with the draining in depth feeling of physical and mental injuries, athletes face the intense pressure and temperature weighted upon them.

In the long term process of sports, the repercussions of sports injuries often manifest a level of diminished physical performance and persistent psychological challenges. Although many athletes are able to finish their careers in sports regardless of any previous injuries, the setbacks in the distant future outweigh an immeasurable amount of drawbacks. A prime example of the ripple long term injuries have on athletes is with hall of famer Deion Sanders. Deion Sanders, one of the very few dual athletes in American sports history who played both in the NFL and MLB suffered from blood clots in his legs, costing him a whopping total of 11 surgeries and losing two of his toes in the process. With Deion Sanders now being retired and an active head coach for The University of Colorado Boulder Football, his journey with blood clots after a career of greatness grew to be alarming news to future athletes on their way towards retirement as, “ In 2021, the former professional football and baseball player had two of his toes amputated due to blood circulation issues in his left foot. In an interview with USA Today, he said his toes were “charcoal black,” and he opted to have them removed so he wouldn’t continue missing games while he was coaching at Jackson State.” (Abby Carney, Runner’s World) Previous injuries can come back towards an athletes future and affect daily life and overall well-being, making it essential for athletes to pursue comprehensive care that includes both physical and mental health support prior to the ending of their careers.
In the final analysis, the impact of sport injuries is more than just a physical detriment to athletes. The limitations and effects injuries have socially, mentally, and physically all factor into the mindset of professional athletes that distribute a beautiful product day in and day out in their field of work. The world’s power is underrated in the terminology of sports due to its dictatorship on how athletes furthermore approach their profession and inhabit a futuristic process towards securing the betterment of their health. Understanding the underlying issue of athletic health can

empower coaches, staff, players, and the people to apply more attention into comprehending that athletes are human and deserve fair treatment. Athletes face hurdles that are slim to none in conquering, therefore the product distributed should be appreciated and took into consideration by all.

Works Cited Page:
Holmes, C.J. “Ben Simmons Still Hasn’t Rediscovered His Aggression.” New York Daily News, 29 Oct. 2024, www.nydailynews.com/2024/10/29/ben-simmons-finally-healthy-still-searching-for-c onfidence-on-offense/. Accessed 4 Dec. 2024.

“Ben Simmons.” Foxsports.com, 2024, www.foxsports.com/nba/ben-simmons-player-injuries. Accessed 4 Dec. 2024.
“And Now Their Process Has Ended.” Theringer.com, 23 July 2021, www.theringer.com/2021/07/23/nba/philadelphia-76ers-ben-simmons-pass-end-of-the -process. Accessed 4 Dec. 2024.
Henry Ford Health Staff. “7 Tips for Recovering Mentally after a Sports Injury.” Www.henryford.com, 21 June 2019, www.henryford.com/blog/2019/06/7-tips-recovery-after-sports-injury.
Shelburne, Ramona, and Adrian Wojnarowski. “Source — Knicks Didn’t Want to Offer KD Max Deal – ESPN.” ESPN.com, ESPN, July 2019, www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/27092547/source-knicks-want-offer-kd-max-deal. Accessed 4 Dec. 2024.
Carney, Abby. “Deion Sanders Goes for First Run after 11 Surgeries to Treat Blood Clotting in His Legs.” Runner’s World, 9 Jan. 2024,

www.runnersworld.com/news/a46328884/deion-sanders-run-after-surgery/#. Accessed 4 Dec. 2024.