Psychological Response to Injury: How to Overcome Fear of Reinjury

Sport-related injuries are extremely common among both competitive and recreational athletes. Research shows that three to seven million sport-related injuries occur annually in the United States. While the physical impact is obvious, many athletes underestimate how significantly injuries affect their mental and emotional health.

Common psychological responses after injury include:

• Fear

• Anxiety

• Apprehension

• Lack of confidence

• Depression

• Frustration

• Self-doubt

• Lowered self-esteem

Ideally, as physical healing progresses, emotional and psychological health should improve as well. But when rehab conditions are poor or when injuries are misunderstood, the psychological impact can stall recovery, limit performance, and delay a successful return to sport.

Overcoming the fear of reinjury requires a structured, intentional approach. The guidelines below can help you navigate the emotional and psychological stressors that commonly occur during rehabilitation.

1. Manage Expectations

Work with your physical therapist, doctor, and coach to educate yourself about your injury. Understand:

• What caused the injury

• The expected rehab timeline

• What you should and shouldn’t do during recovery

Clear expectations reduce anxiety and help you mentally prepare for the rehabilitation process.

2. Trust Your Rehab Team

Take the time to find a rehab team that:

• Understands your injury

• Works with athletes like you

• Communicates clearly

• Builds confidence

Your team may include a physical therapist, coach or trainer, and depending on the injury, a medical doctor.

Once you have your team—trust them. Seeking advice from friends, family, random practitioners, or Google often leads to misinformation, mixed messages, and unnecessary worry.

3. Set Meaningful Goals

Tell your rehab team what you hope to achieve. Break goals into:

• Short-term goals (daily or weekly milestones)

• Long-term goals (return to sport or performance targets)

Include goals that challenge you, but also ones that are reasonable and achievable. Clear, measurable goals keep you focused and motivated.

4. Think Positively

Negative thinking increases stress hormones, which can heighten pain and slow your rehab timeline. Because injury already elevates stress, additional negative thoughts only make recovery harder.

A positive mindset won’t magically heal you—but it absolutely improves focus, confidence, and outcomes.

5. Use Graded Exposure

Gradual exposure to feared movements builds confidence and reduces apprehension. Start with manageable tasks and progress slowly.

Example:
If you fear bending down because of a past back injury, begin by reaching to a stool or chair. Repeat until you feel comfortable, then reach lower. Over time, increase:

• Complexity (reaching across the body)

• Intensity (adding weight)

• Frequency (more reps)

Small, controlled exposures help retrain both the brain and body.

6. Build Social Support & Reflect

Stay connected to teammates, friends, family, and your rehab team. Talking about your progress helps reinforce success and builds confidence.

Consider keeping a journal to track milestones. Seeing your progress in writing helps maintain motivation and reduces fear of setbacks.

7. Keep It Simple — Trust the Process

Rehab takes time, consistency, and patience. Trust the plan, trust your team, and trust yourself. Progress is rarely linear, but with the right mindset, you’ll move forward.

References 

1. Hsu CJ, Meierbachtol A, George SZ, Chmielewski TL. Fear of Reinjury in Athletes. Sports Health. 2017;9(2):162‐167. doi:10.1177/1941738116666813 

2. Bijur, Polly E. 1995. "Sports And Recreation Injuries In US Children And Adolescents". Archives Of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine 149 (9): 1009. doi:10.1001/archpedi.1995.02170220075010. 

3. Conn, J M. 2003. "Sports And Recreation Related Injury Episodes In The US Population, 1997-99". Injury Prevention 9 (2): 117-123. doi:10.1136/ip.9.2.117.