Like so many of us, I’ve been fascinated with the Olympics the past two weeks.  I’m awed by the mental and physical strength of the Olympic athletes and the amazing physical feats they accomplish each day.

Along the way, we’ve seen athletes surpass expectations and we’ve seen several wipe outs, injuries and even death.  I’m particularly struck by the athletes who suffer what looks like a debilitating injury only to be on the course the next day, racing for another chance at an Olympic medal.  How do they recover so quickly?

While Olympic athletes are in far better shape than the rest of us, they too must go through the same physical therapy exercises and rehabilitation.  The primary focus is usually physical therapy; however, mental rehabilitation is also key in helping to get an athlete back in the game.

We recently had the opportunity to speak with Felix Raytsin, Sports Psychology / Mental Game Coach and founder of Soccer Mental Coach, based in Springfield, NJ.  He was able to shed some light into some of the mental challenges athletes face when injured and some of the steps they can take to help get back on the field, in the game or on the slopes faster.  It is his belief that physical therapy and mental rehabilitation go hand in hand.

Athletes are often under intense pressure to get back on the playing field after injury.  Studies have shown that there is a decline in self confidence after an injury.  Anger, guilt, feelings of isolation, fear of re-injury, depression and difficulty watching others perform are often common sources of stress for injured athletes.  A body/mind approach allows athletes to focus their energy and emotions on getting back to their sport instead of focusing on the negative aspects of their injury.

Athletes who recognize the mental side of the injury are more compliant with their home exercise programs.  They also experience less re-injury, fear, anxiety and less pain during rehabilitation.  For optimum recovery, patients should understand their plan for physical therapy and what it entails.  More knowledge increases a person’s feeling of “control” and they are better able to cope with the rehabilitation process.  To help cope with the emotional struggle, goal setting, visualization, relaxation training and positive self talk all help people heal faster.

After speaking with Felix, I have no doubt that Olympic Athletes are using both physical therapy and mental rehabilitation.  It seems that we injured “weekend warriors,” can also benefit from physical therapy and mental skills training.

To read the entire article, “Injury Rehabilitation and Psychology”, please click on the link below.

For more information about Felix Raytsin, please visit: http://www.soccermentalcoach.com/