Sidelined

Athletes often possess a variety of traits seeming to make them feel indestructible. But what happens when those same athletes experience a severe injury that sidelines them from the sport and lifestyle they love?

Injuries are one thing all athletes have in common. From a small cut or bruise to a life-changing, career-ending event, injuries come in all shapes and sizes. However, when an athlete experiences an injury that takes them away from the game they love, their entire life can be turned upside down.

Daily activities like showering and walking to class become increasingly difficult-if not impossible-without the assistance of others. Instead of going to team lifts and running around on the field or court, these athletes are sidelined, often feeling isolated from the rest of their team. 

Logan Frye, a sophomore linebacker at Ohio Wesleyan University suffered a knee injury that sidelined him for the 2025 football season said, “A lot of things in my daily life got harder after my surgery, the biggest ones being simple things like going to the bathroom, or even just getting up to grab something. It most definitely turned a couple minute event into what felt like a 20-minute workout.” 

Frye’s experiences are held throughout the athletic community among those who have suffered similar fates. After having a large part of their life stripped away, it is not uncommon for the physical limitations to bleed into an athlete’s mental health. This can appear as a lack of motivation to complete schoolwork or weakened relationships with teammates, coaches, and peers they once saw every day. 

Surgeries like Frye’s often prevent athletes from attending school or even leaving the house for 2-3 weeks. Once these individuals do come back, they are often met with extensive amounts of make-up work, leaving them left behind and separated from their peers. 

Another significant challenge athletes face lies in comparison. It is easy for injured athletes to look at someone with the same injury who is farther along in the rehabilitation process and feel disappointed or discouraged. 

Stacy Weible, a physical therapist at Ohio Wesleyan University, has worked with athletes from a wide array of injuries. 

“My job is to tailor the rehab to that specific individual.  Reminding an athlete that they are healing as they should be can help keep them motivated and not too discouraged.  Rehab protocols are considered a general guideline, but I make sure athletes don't take those timelines to heart. Every recovery is individualized to that specific person.”

Weible emphasizes treating each athlete as an individual, often encouraging them not to worry about what others are doing and focus on their personal recovery journey.

Suffering a severe injury is taxing on an athlete’s physical health, but recognizing its effects on lifestyle and mental health is crucial in uncovering the most efficient and productive path to recovery.