How Does Surgery Affect An Athlete’s Mindset?

Over the course of an athlete’s careers, they are bound to get injured at least once. In some cases, injuries can be as bad as a hang nail. Other injuries could be so bad they require surgery.

Brad Budman, a current senior at Williston Northampton, was a victim of an injury that required surgery earlier this year. Budman suffered a torn labrum and a broken bone in his left shoulder while playing hockey during his senior season.

Budman says, “When I found out I would be out for the rest of the season I was pretty bummed out. To be honest at that point though, I was more looking forward to my shoulder being better again. I had a torn labrum for over a year, and when I broke the bone I knew it was time to get it done.”

After surgery, an athlete’s mindset can be tampered with. Before surgery, athletes are usually very confident in themselves and their abilities. Those with a fixed mindset believe they are born with a certain amount of intelligence or talent, and believe these abilities can always be improved. This creates a constant urge to attempt to perform better than other people.

Post-surgery, however, athletes have the potential to become very nervous or scared about becoming physically active again. When Kelley Schofield, a current Junior at Westfield State University who has had three knee surgeries, was asked about the topic, he responded, “Immediately after the surgery I was pretty nervous about the whole process, but as time progressed and the rehab got more related to lacrosse like activities, and I got to start running again I was very confident in making a full recovery.”

One of the toughest parts of getting surgery is the rehab process that comes after it. Physical therapy is a very tough stage of the healing process, which many athletes tend to rush. Athletes rush the rehab process because there is the belief that if they progress quicker, they can make their return sooner.

Gabby Jones, a current sophomore at Williston, suffered a knee injury during a soccer game her freshman year. When Jones was asked about her rehab process she said, “Yes I did rush the rehab process. I was so eager to play again and I was also mad I couldn’t, so I put my frustration into my rehab. I would constantly be doing physical therapy and my exercises that I was allowed to do and it eventually helped me out in the long run.

Jones has also offered to give some advice for athletes that may have future surgery required injuries. She stated, “I would have to say just go in positive with a strong mindset and be ready to put the work in later on during your rehab.