The career of a professional athlete is quite short compared to some other fields. Doctors, lawyers, construction workers, and drivers spend decades in their respective fields, while, in the majority of sports, an athlete’s peak is measured in years. When you add to the fact that their careers are further reduced by the time they spend in recovery and that there is a risk it might abruptly end due to a serious injury, things look even more grim.
According to the statistics, construction laborers, maintenance workers, and heavy truck operators have somewhere between 250 and 370 incidents per 10,000 FTE and these are considered some of the most dangerous jobs out there. At the same time, professional athletes have roughly 1,500 incidents per 10,000 FTE, making it one of the most dangerous professions out there.
Here are some thoughts of Dr. Alex Shin of Orthopedic Institute of NJ and Nikki Cordes of Ivy Rehab about how one can triumph against such odds and have a full healthy season.