What advice would you give the patient about playing sports safely?
In order to make sure that my patient is well-prepared to go on the field and play safely, I would start by asking them some questions about their relationship with the sport they like best or have played in the past. I tend to think that the mental health part of it is crucial and therefore needs to be addressed from the start.
I would then talk about physical safety and overall cautiousness that they need to have in mind, explaining that, to put it in a nutshell, you have to stop playing and rest whenever the idea even crosses your mind. The body knows best and when it’s trying to tell you something, it is absolutely necessary that you pause and listen to it. Brain injuries, especially, can be particularly difficult to spot at first, but can have long-lasting terrible effects - hence the need to 1) listen to your body as much as you can and 2) do regular check-ups.
What questions would you have for the patient regarding playing sports?
The first round of questions would be about my patient’s mental health:
Have you enjoyed playing this sport?
Is there anything that makes you feel unsafe, sad or depressed when you’re playing?
Do you get along with your teammates and coaches?
Do you notice any improvements on how you feel psychologically after practice?
Do you feel as though playing this sport has helped you maintain morale?
The second one would be about my patient’s physical health:
Do you feel like your body takes longer than usual to recover from small injuries (such as falling, etc.)?
Do you feel physically safe playing this sport?
Have you had previous injuries that have resurfaced while playing this sport?