What the Sidelines Have Taught Me

What years of covering sports have taught me about injury, recovery, and helping people stay active.

One of the questions I get asked most often is, “What’s it like covering professional sports?”

Whether I’m standing behind the bench at a hockey game, covering a professional wrestling event, working with dancers backstage, or caring for athletes at local schools, I’ve had a front row seat to some incredible moments. But over the years, I’ve realized the biggest lessons I’ve learned have very little to do with sports.

They’re about people.

No matter the setting, I see many of the same emotions. An athlete hoping to return before the season ends is not all that different from the grandfather who wants to play with his grandchildren without knee pain or the golfer trying to make it through 18 holes. The circumstances may be different, but the goal is often the same. People simply want to get back to the activities that bring them joy.

One thing the sidelines have taught me is that every injury has both a physical and an emotional side. Most people assume pain is the hardest part, but that often isn’t true. For athletes, the first thoughts are usually, “How long will I be out?” or “Will I ever be the same?” My patients ask different questions, but they come from the same place. Will I still be able to travel? Can I keep playing pickleball? Will I have to give up the things I enjoy? An injury can interrupt routines, shake confidence, and make people wonder if life is about to change.

Another lesson is that pain doesn’t always tell the whole story. I’ve seen athletes compete with injuries that looked impossible, and I’ve seen relatively small injuries keep someone from performing anywhere close to their normal level. Pain is important, but it’s only one piece of the puzzle. Strength, movement, endurance, confidence, and the demands you plan to place on your body all matter. Feeling better doesn’t always mean your body is ready.

One phrase I hear surprisingly often is, “Treat me like a professional athlete.”

I understand exactly what people mean. They want the best care available. But what surprises many people is that professional athletes are not always managed the way they imagine.

Their decisions are influenced by seasons, contracts, careers, and sometimes millions of dollars. Returning for a playoff game may justify accepting risks that would never make sense for someone whose goal is enjoying retirement, traveling with family, or playing tennis every weekend.

Professional athletes also have resources that most people simply don’t. Many have daily access to athletic trainers, physical therapists, strength coaches, massage therapists, nutritionists, and recovery specialists. Rehabilitation can become a full time job.

Most of us have careers, families, and responsibilities that make recovery look very different.

That’s why I don’t try to treat every patient like a professional athlete.

I try to treat every patient like themselves.

Your goals matter more than someone else’s. If your dream is hiking through a national park, playing another season of pickleball, walking your neighborhood every morning, or getting on the floor with your grandchildren, then those are the goals that should shape your treatment plan. Good medicine isn’t about treating everyone the same. It’s about understanding what matters most to the person sitting in front of you.

Perhaps the biggest lesson I’ve taken from the sidelines is that getting back isn’t the finish line.

The real goal is staying there.

I don’t want someone to feel better for the next two weeks. I want them to stay active for the next twenty years. Sometimes that means slowing down before speeding up. Sometimes it means focusing on strength instead of another procedure. Sometimes it means changing expectations. Every recovery is different because every person is different.

Whether someone performs in front of thousands of fans or simply wants to enjoy an active life with family and friends, my goal is the same. Help them move well, recover thoughtfully, and continue doing the things that make life meaningful.

Sports may have brought me to the sidelines, but it’s the people who have taught me the most.

Want a plan built around your goals? Call (844) 407-4070 or visit the Contact page to schedule.