What a Major Injury Could Mean for Professional Players
Injuries are devastating even for amateur sports players, but they get much more complicated when they involve players under million-dollar contracts in the big leagues. Watching a star player score goals, throw dimes, or cross the finish line in first place, only to suffer a potentially life-changing injury, can shock the world.
Not only are these players unable to perform and play their part in the broader team, but this also has serious implications for their long-term careers and the franchise as a whole. As the leading authority in online gambling, Casinos.com has stated sports injuries also influence how fans place bets and interact with sports. Essentially, major injuries in sports produce an unfortunate domino effect that can affect the players, their families, teams, and sponsorships, and other stakeholders.
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The Immediate Impact of Physical and Emotional Pain
Whether it’s a minor trip, a major fall, a clash with another player, or a non-visible incident, the immediate realization that something’s wrong can be jarring. No matter if it’s a sharp pain or a dull ache, seasoned players will know that things are not always what they seem right off the bat. Often, the player will have to abruptly stop playing the game and retreat to the dressing room. They’ll have to deal with not only the physical symptoms they’re experiencing but also the emotions of frustration, fear, and sadness. They might not know how long recovery will take or how severe the injury truly is, leaving their mind racing. Questions about whether the injury will put a stop to their career or force them to take months or even years off can cause intense anxiety.
Consequences on Their Careers
In the best-case scenario, the injury is easily treatable and simply takes a set amount of time to heal. In the worst-case scenario, the injury will forever affect the player’s physical health and trajectory in the sport. There are countless examples of this, including the NBA’s Derrick Rose, whose ACL tear during the 2012 playoffs kept him off the court for over a year. Despite having undergone multiple knee surgeries during that time, people were confident Rose would return. Unfortunately, he was never able to reach his full potential ever again. Meanwhile, Bo Jackson didn’t just have to retire from one sport, but from two, being a dual-sport athlete in the NFL and MLB. His hip injury after a playoff football game cut his highly praised sports career short.
Impact on the Team
Even if injured athletes are lucky enough to return to their preferred sport one day, their absence can still have a massive impact on the team and broader franchise. Especially if they hold a prominent position on the team, such as a goalie, quarterback, or starting pitcher, the stakes only get higher. The team will be forced to find another player to fill in, which could mean less experienced talent, the need to rejig lineups, and even change strategies altogether. Performance could suffer, and what was planned might not play out as expected. And unsurprisingly, team morale can also decrease. Without a key person at practice or in the changing room, it can feel like a part of the entire operation is missing.
The Financial Considerations
Most people don’t think about the financial considerations of an injured player. After all, with intense physical pain on the line and team morale at an all-time low, fans won’t be too concerned about the financials. The organization, however, will be. While players usually still get paid a large portion of their contract, the longer they are inactive, the more likely they’ll miss out on sponsorship deals, performance bonuses, and more. Teams and clubs will have to take on an even bigger financial burden as they continue to pay the player their salary, medical bills, and rehabilitation — all while paying for a replacement at the same time. And that’s not to mention the other aspects of the financial ecosystem, such as broadcasters, sponsors, and advertisers, who have their stakes wrapped around the athlete.
Coming Back After Injury
Even once the athlete is cleared to return, it doesn’t mean everything goes back to normal. There’s now a “new normal” which may not feel “normal” at all. Recovery from an injury often goes on long after a player resumes their duties. They need to get accustomed to the game again, continue physical therapy, and potentially undergo advanced treatments (which we’ll go over in the final section). Again, the psychological aspect of injury can come into play, where fear and anxiety can potentially cause re-injury or create a mental block. As we’ve seen with the examples of players above, this fear is totally justified, as there’s the threat of not being able to play professionally again.
How Technology and Medicine Have Revolutionized Recovery
With the fortunate advancements in medicine and technology, recovery has taken on a new dimension. Major injuries that once meant the end of a career can now be managed much more effectively, with the healing process accompanied by all sorts of modern tools. We’re seeing athletes travel to other countries to receive stem cell injections or platelet-rich plasma therapy, undergo imaging technology, and even prevent injuries from happening in the first place with wearable devices. If this level of science had been available decades ago, would certain athletes have avoided early retirement? We might never know.