Dear Mr. and Mrs. Jordan:
Jane Bone has asked me to write a letter to you outlining how Michelle is coping with her knee injury. First, I want you to know that knee injuries, although common, are stressful to the athlete, as well as painful.
In addition to the strengthening exercises and hydrotherapy treatment, Michelle needs plenty of rest. Pressure to come back into the game while healing could lead to more problems down the road. Michelle is young, so Jane Bone believes her outlook for full recovery is good. However, I must stress that she rest and not be pushed into playing in the upcoming tournament.
Michelle's anger and depression are to be expected. We recommend the following steps for her, her family and her teammates to overcome this injury:
Think positive. As I mentioned before, Jane Bone is confident that Michelle will regain full use of her knee again. She will return to the game. Look toward that future.
Be understanding. Please understand that Michelle's anger, which may sometimes be taken out on you, is normal. If her coach and teammates continue to push, however, I feel Michelle's frustration will lead to increased anger. Everyone needs to be patient.
Let her stay involved. Allow Michelle to remain part of the team, without playing. Bringing home volleyball videos or magazines might cheer her up. Once she gets over the initial phases of depression, Jane Bone and I believe that it would be fine for her to watch her team play. The important word here is watch.
In addition, we've recommended several techniques to Michelle so that she can feel better about the injury:
- Keep a journal of the rehabilitation process -- this is a great way to vent some frustration and anger now, as well as to monitor her positive progress
- Learn to relax
- Visualize healing
Because I see Michelle five times a week, I would contact Jane Bone if her depression reached an unhealthy level. At that point, you and Jane Bone would decide whether or not Michelle would benefit from a psychiatrist. I would like to stress, however, that the reaction I am seeing from Michelle is quite common.
Please feel free to contact Jane Bone or myself for further feedback.
Sincerely,
Mary Smith
Physical Therapy Assistant