Confidence

[Vladimir Innit Lenin]

I'd like to hear from anybody who's had a serious injury, and come back to play competitive sports again.

I fractured my shoulder last August, and the consultant said basically that I can start playing competitive sports again from the end of this month.

Whilst i've kept my general fitness up, and my rehab has gone pretty well, i'll freely admit that i've lost all confidence when it comes to competitive sports. In particular, Judo, which is where I sustained the injury. Despite having been assured that it will heal fully, and despite my physio telling me to basically get on with getting back to sport, i'm terrified, mentally, of getting back on the mat, even though I want nothing more than to train and compete again.

I know it's a mental block - does anybody with experience here have any advice for how I can get over these worries?

[BIXX]

I tore my rotator cuff wrestling a few times- since then I have won several tournaments. I got through it by continually telling myself that I would be better than my injury. I essentially was really tired of being injured and hurt, so by the time I got back to them may I was unwilling to not be on the mat. I was scared but I was more pissed than that. I admit at first I was timid, but it got easier very quick.

Another thing that'll help is just doing it. Think of it like trying something new to you, how it can be scary at first but if you take that jump it'll be almost immediately better.

[Quail]

I haven't sustained any serious injuries (yet :unsure:), but I did take a long break from Judo and I know it can be scary getting back into the competitive side of things.

Maybe it will just have to be like ripping off a plaster going back, but in your first few sessions back you can always take it easy. Let people know you've had time off due to an injury and maybe ask them not to lock the arm on the side where you fractured your shoulder. When you're doing randori ask your partner if you could just take turns at practicing throws on the move. Sit out of randori altogether if you need to, until you've got back into the swing of things. People come back to Judo after injuring themselves quite a lot, so people are used to being gentle, and of course looking after your partner in general is part of Judo.

[Craig_J]

Hello, I broke both of the bones in my left forearm a year and a half ago. They had to operate and put a metal plate and metal pins in my arm which are still here. I don't play competive sports but I go to the gym and I couldn't lift weights for 6 months afterwards.

My arms never been the same since and when ever I move my thumb I get a sort of numbness and tingling feeling which I guess is from where the bone tore through my nerves and ripped them apart.

I haven't been working out as much as I should do the last few months (I blame student life!) but lifting weights and building muscle around the healed area really does help.

If you don't lift weights already I'd advise you to start as it's a great way of getting your strength and confidence back. Eat plenty of protein and take it easy to begin with. I'd really recommend doing this before getting back on the mat.

Hope your shoulder feels better soon and wishing you well health! :)

[Skyhilist]

Who knows, maybe after your injury heals it might actually make you better in some odd way. When I was young I fractured a bone in my left arm after I fell off my bike. I'm left handed, and it caused me to have a slightly different throwing motion with my left arm. After that I could pretty much throw a nastier breaking ball than anyone else on the team (and had the lowest ERA on the team as a result). So who knows, if you stick with it, you might be better off for the experience in the long run.

[Vladimir Innit Lenin]

Hello, I broke both of the bones in my left forearm a year and a half ago. They had to operate and put a metal plate and metal pins in my arm which are still here. I don't play competive sports but I go to the gym and I couldn't lift weights for 6 months afterwards.

My arms never been the same since and when ever I move my thumb I get a sort of numbness and tingling feeling which I guess is from where the bone tore through my nerves and ripped them apart.

I haven't been working out as much as I should do the last few months (I blame student life!) but lifting weights and building muscle around the healed area really does help.

If you don't lift weights already I'd advise you to start as it's a great way of getting your strength and confidence back. Eat plenty of protein and take it easy to begin with. I'd really recommend doing this before getting back on the mat.

Hope your shoulder feels better soon and wishing you well health! :)

Yeah, I've been lifting weights since December, would have done it sooner but the NHS is a pretty shitty service and it took months to get to have the scans/see the consultant. The actual resistance training and mobility of my shoulder has improved at a surprisingly good rate, it's just a mental block on going back on the mat.

Actually strangely enough as I was writing the thread I got a terrific pain in my shoulder, felt as though it had frozen right through from the weather. Not good. Hope it's a one time thing/due to the cold and wet.