{"id":7643,"date":"2023-01-19T16:46:16","date_gmt":"2023-01-19T21:46:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/?p=7643"},"modified":"2025-07-08T07:26:03","modified_gmt":"2025-07-08T11:26:03","slug":"how-overuse-injuries-affect-athletes-mindset","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/how-overuse-injuries-affect-athletes-mindset\/","title":{"rendered":"How Overuse Injuries Affect Athletes\u2019 Mindset"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/how-overuse-injuries-affect-athletes-mindset.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/how-overuse-injuries-affect-athletes-mindset.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-7649\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/how-overuse-injuries-affect-athletes-mindset.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/how-overuse-injuries-affect-athletes-mindset-300x150.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_Overuse_Injuries_Can_Undermine_Your_Mental_Game\"><\/span>How Overuse Injuries Can Undermine Your Mental Game<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2><div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_83 ez-toc-wrap-center counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/how-overuse-injuries-affect-athletes-mindset\/#How_Overuse_Injuries_Can_Undermine_Your_Mental_Game\" >How Overuse Injuries Can Undermine Your Mental Game<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/how-overuse-injuries-affect-athletes-mindset\/#This_type_of_pressure_can_also_lead_to_burnout\" >This type of pressure can also lead to burnout.<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/how-overuse-injuries-affect-athletes-mindset\/#Related_Articles_on_Kids_Mental_Game\" >Related Articles on Kids&#8217; Mental Game:<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/how-overuse-injuries-affect-athletes-mindset\/#Improve_Your_Mental_Game_From_Anywhere_In_The_World\" >Improve Your Mental Game From Anywhere In The World<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That\u2019s the message from Robert Weil, a sports podiatrist and host of the Sports Doctor Radio Show. He recently was a guest on our Ultimate Sports Parent podcast.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It\u2019s important to understand the pressures that lead to <strong>overuse injuries,<\/strong> he says. First of all, young athletes who play one sport year-round are more likely to experience these injuries. Instead, they should be playing more than one sport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIt\u2019s better to use different parts of the body and play more than one sport. It enhances balance, stability and motion control,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In addition, parents and coaches often push kids to keep playing even if they\u2019re injured. A rule of thumb: Don\u2019t let young athletes play if they have to take over-the-counter medications\u2013Advil, for example\u2013to reduce pain. This rule applies especially to high achievers, who may be reluctant to give up playing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">What\u2019s more, athletes who participate in dance and gymnastics often are pressured to lose weight or aim for certain body types, Weil says. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"This_type_of_pressure_can_also_lead_to_burnout\"><\/span>This type of pressure can also lead to burnout.<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">On his radio show, the Number One concern from listeners is <strong>mental health<\/strong>\u2013across the globe, says Weil. \u201cThis is where the mental side is a very big deal. Pressure to play hurt is only one type of pressure.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Gymnast Simone Biles\u2019 decision to give up an Olympic event last year because she didn\u2019t feel ready is one example. She decided to resist caving into pressure when she was bombarded with it, as the gymnast with the most World medals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Former competitive swimmer Michael Phelps\u2013the most decorated Olympian of all time\u2013now does commercials about the mental side of sports, saying, \u201cIt\u2019s okay to not be okay.\u201d &nbsp;That\u2019s an important message, says Weil.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To help kids avoid <strong>overuse injuries<\/strong> and the mental game issues that accompany them, Weil suggests that parents begin by seeking advice from a physical therapist about possible strengthening exercises.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He also suggests visiting a podiatrist to see if kids need orthotics, are wearing properly sized shoes or could benefit from exercises that strengthen their feet and ankles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Parents also need to check in with their sports kids to make sure they\u2019re not experiencing any physical aches and pains. They should leave the lines of communication open so that young athletes feel comfortable saying that they hurt too much to play or practice. &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cBe a good listener, open up that dialogue with your kids. You can\u2019t go wrong with a personal trainer or physical therapist. Not following these suggestions can lead to kids getting injured or experiencing burnout and mental pressure or deciding to drop out,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-dots\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"related-articles-on-hockey-mental-game\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Related_Articles_on_Kids_Mental_Game\"><\/span>Related Articles on Kids&#8217; Mental Game:<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/how-overuse-injuries-hurt-sports-kids-mental-game\/\"><strong>How Overuse Injuries Hurt Sports Kids\u2019 Mental Game<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/injuries-and-self-image-in-youth-sports\/\"><strong>Injuries and Self-Image in Youth Sports<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/coping-with-the-mental-side-of-sports-injuries-in-kids\/\"><strong>Coping With The Mental Side of Sports Injuries in Kids<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" id=\"block-f49818fa-7c7a-4ee3-b5ee-66581aad2c71\">*Subscribe to\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/podcasts.apple.com\/us\/podcast\/sports-psychology-podcast-by-peaksports-com\/id152566009\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>The Sports Psychology Podcast<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0on iTunes<br>*Subscribe to <a href=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/show\/0ynyaalKxbnNmsoeL8gF5X?si=8224669de9b3435b\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>The Sports Psychology Podcast<\/strong><\/a> on Spotify<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity is-style-dots\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Improve_Your_Mental_Game_From_Anywhere_In_The_World\"><\/span><strong>Improve Your Mental Game From Anywhere In The World<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/mental-training-for-young-athletes.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-6868\" style=\"width:138px;height:auto\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We\u2019re certain that, as a parent,&nbsp;you want to help your child develop confidence and discipline in sports and life.&nbsp;And as a sports parent, you\u2019d love for your children to reach their potential in sports.&nbsp;But encouraging your child to <strong>strive for greatness without pressuring them<\/strong> can be a challenge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You can get expert mental coaching with us from anywhere. Meet with us via Zoom, Skype, FaceTime or phone call. With today\u2019s video technology, we are able to connect with athletes and coaches all over the globe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Call Us Today to Schedule Your Free 15-Minute Session.<\/strong><br><strong>Find Out How Your Athlete Can Benefit From One-on-One Mental Coaching!<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>How Overuse Injuries Can Undermine Your Mental Game That\u2019s the message from Robert Weil, a sports podiatrist and host of the Sports Doctor Radio Show. He recently was a guest on our Ultimate Sports Parent podcast. It\u2019s important to understand the pressures that lead to overuse injuries, he says. First &#8230; <a title=\"How Overuse Injuries Affect Athletes\u2019 Mindset\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/how-overuse-injuries-affect-athletes-mindset\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about How Overuse Injuries Affect Athletes\u2019 Mindset\">Read Sport Psychology Tip<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":7648,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5,6],"tags":[39,301],"class_list":["post-7643","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-kids-in-sports","category-youth-sports-psychology-blog","tag-kids-sports-psychology","tag-pressure-in-youth-sports"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7643","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7643"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7643\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7648"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7643"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7643"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7643"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}