1.1 Lois’s experience

Following her injury Lois has been feeling quite down. She is struggling with not being able to train and compete and is missing being part of her training group. Her coach Wilma has noticed that she has been withdrawn and quiet and not her usual bubbly self. Lois has told Wilma that, as well as being frustrated about not being able to run, she feels socially isolated as most of her friends are athletes.

Wilma has also learned that Lois has not been attending all of her rehabilitation sessions at the sports medicine clinic. In the last few weeks she has only been to fifty per cent of her scheduled sessions. The physiotherapist has noted that she doesn’t seem very motivated in these sessions and isn’t working as hard as she could. Additionally, Lois has not been engaging in her daily rehabilitation exercises at home. The physiotherapist has referred her for a session with the sport psychologist at the clinic to try and get her back on track.

When Wilma asked Lois about the rehabilitation sessions, she seemed very depressed and her response was ‘what’s the point? – my career is probably over anyway’. This does not match with the physiotherapist’s diagnosis, who believes she can make a full recovery.