Athletic Identity, Emotions and Fear After Injury

Strong athletic identity, or an identity tied to work or family, raises the risk of depression after injury, especially in young people with little injury experience. Using Charlie, a 21-year-old rider, Andrew applies the Wiese-Bjornstal model, where personal and situational factors shape cognitive appraisal, emotional response and behavior throughout rehab. Letting patients express emotions early is essential, and empathy needs emotional intelligence to be useful, a skill that requires training. Fear of reinjury limits return to sport even with good function, and about 20% of people after ACL injury did not return because of it. Patients move through denial, distress and determined coping, and those who stay in denial tend toward avoidance and cycles of overdoing and resting. Adherence is higher when athletes see the threat as real, believe rehab works and trust their own ability. Athletes who trust their clinician also put in more effort. Physiotherapists do not need to be psychologists to use social support, goal setting and imagery, and psychological interventions are linked to fewer sports injuries, possibly through better decisions under stress.