I’ve been fortunate that over my athletic career, I’ve had few serious injuries. Junior year of college, I slipped on ice walking to class and broke my leg — graceful, I know — and in my fifth year, I dove for a ball and broke my finger tip. It wasn’t until I likely tore my hamstring this summer water skiing that I remembered the tasking process of recovery.

But athletes, or former athletes, are a different breed when it comes to injuries and recovery. As Monroe athletic trainer Tony Baltierra put it, “Athletes are more on board with recovery and want to get back to it compared to the normal person. They are always pushing.”

So, for those athletes itching to get back on the court or field, here are some tips:

●  Have a good support system: This is possibly the easiest piece of advice. Teammates, coaches or athletic trainers are immediate sources of support. When I broke my leg, my teammates, who also happened to be my roommates, helped me up the stairs to my second-story bedroom. For away games, they would carry my items off the bus so I had my hands free for crutches. Family members are great people to lean on, too. After learning I broke my leg, my parents drove 2.5 hours to Oshkosh to help me navigate the first day of injury.

●  Fight the depression: Having this support system will be important in overcoming the initial feelings of depression. 

“It’s frustrating not being able to do what you are used to,” Baltierra said. “That’s why athletes get excited when they are getting back.” 

The timing of my broken leg couldn’t have been poorer. I was a few games into the season hitting over .500 and our annual spring break trip to Florida was approaching. With my season-ending surgery, I not only missed the rest of the season, but I couldn’t fly to Florida with the team for risk of blood clots. 

I didn’t want to leave bed or go to classes. The starting role I had worked so hard for and all the hard work finally paying off was for naught. What was the point? But my then-boyfriend stayed with me, motivated me to attend classes and live my life normally. He wasn’t going to let me wallow in depression, as much as I wanted to. Getting over that mental hump was an important step in recovery.

●  Be the best teammate: Just because an injury may sideline an athlete doesn’t mean they still aren’t part of the team. 

“Whether a freshman or senior, still be a part of the team,” Baltierra said. “Get items ready for drills or mentor the person taking your spot.”

Even on my knee scooter, I was attending practices and shagging balls. During games, my task then became doing the scorebook or pitching chart. It kept me engaged in the game and, quite honestly, gave me a new perspective. I learned just as much watching as I did practicing, so when I did come back healthy, I had a strategic edge.

●  Rest, and don’t rush recovery: This was the hardest part for me to learn. I wanted to be out there yesterday, and I’d do whatever it took to do so. But Baltierra points out, “It’s not worth putting in hurt athletes. We will take someone that can give 100% over a star athlete that can only give 50%.”

So, rest. Ice. Elevate. Medicate. And when the time comes, stretch and rehab. Now a retired athlete, I took my torn hamstring recovery more seriously. That’s to say, I iced multiple times a day. I stayed off it as much as I could, and when I did walk on it, I wrapped it. I even went the extra step to bring the knee scooter back out for reporting on sporting events when I knew I’d have a long distance to walk or would be standing for a long time.

I was not so careful when I broke my leg. I transitioned from my knee scooter to weight bearing on crutches without my trainer’s approval. Off of crutches in the summer, I went back to the gym and started jogging and doing box jumps. I was told that was a big no-no and could have set me back weeks in my recovery.

Needless to say, there was nothing I could do to speed up my recovery. I had to take it slow and easy to let my body recuperate properly. So, I never missed a rehab appointment and pushed myself as much as was allowed in that time. 

Injuries suck, especially as an athlete. Time playing the game is limited, and athletes want to make the most of it. To ensure the best recovery, get a support system, still stay engaged in the game and rest.

— Natalie Dillon is the sports editor of the Monroe Times and can be reached at 608-324-3617 or ndillon@themonroetimes.com.