Fear of getting hurt plagues players in World Cup year

It starts with an increased heart rate. Afterwards, the breath becomes labored. There can be sweaty hands, stomach pains and, in the case of players, the worst, muscle tension.

The physical reactions triggered in the human body by psychological factors, such as fear and anxiety, are among the elements that increase the risk of injury.

In a World Cup year – scheduled for Qatar, between November 21 and December 18 –, the fear of getting hurt and losing the opportunity to be called up to defend their country can be precisely the greatest danger for athletes.

Psychologists and physical trainers explain that if the body is working in an excessive degree of tension caused, for example, by anxiety, the muscles will be more rigid and more susceptible to bruising.

“Tensioned muscle fibers lose flexibility, and, in shock or dislocation, this can end up causing an injury”, says sports psychologist Eduardo Cillo, a doctor in psychology from USP (University of São Paulo).

He adds that high emotional levels affect athletes’ peripheral vision and depth perception. “This prevents the player from having a complete sense of the physical space. In this sense, collisions that could be avoided end up happening, and the risk of injury is great.”

The list of players who have already lost the chance to compete in a World Cup due to physical problems is extensive and includes names such as the Brazilian Romário, the German Michael Ballack, the English David Beckham and Michael Owen, the Dutch Marco Van Basten and the Argentine Alfredo Di Stéfano. .

Recently, striker Antony feared joining this group. He injured his right ankle during Brazil’s last qualifying game against Bolivia at the end of April, when he had to leave the field on a stretcher. Examinations carried out by his club, Dutch Ajax, found that the injury is serious and he will no longer play this European season, to be completed in the middle of the year. But he should recover in time to be taken to Qatar.

According to the Multidimensional Theory of Anxiety, proposed by Rainer Martens, a psychologist and professor at the Department of Kinesiology at the University of Illinois, USA, anxiety in athletes is caused by two types of components: cognitive and somatic.

In his study, published in 1990, he explains that the former is related to performance during sports and its possible consequences, such as victories and defeats. The second is linked to the physical reactions of the human body, such as increased heart rate, more panting and, above all, muscle tension.

Although feelings such as fear and anxiety are common and inevitable, the ideal is that athletes can find a balance to deal with these emotions and not compromise their performance.

“Emotions are very welcome in adequate intensities. Anxiety is related to future planning, and fear, to the analysis of imminent risks. In other words, they are two essential factors for high-yield performance. is conducted so that the athlete can identify the favorable intensity of these emotions for their performance”, explains Palmeiras psychologist Gisele Silva.

The psychological work indicated by the professional, however, is not always part of the players’ routine. The topic is still a taboo in football, at the same time that it became prominent in other sports due to situations involving important athletes, such as the American gymnast Simone Biles and the Brazilian surfer Gabriel Medina.

Considered the best athlete in the world in her modality, Biles gave up participating in some events at the Tokyo Olympics to take care of her mental health. Medina gave up defending his title in this year’s world surfing league for the same reason.

According to psychologist Paulo Ribeiro, who works at Botafogo, it is necessary to demystify the discussions on the topic in football.

“People who deal with athletes need to teach them to deal with emotions as something functional and positive. Once the athlete gets to know himself more and his emotions, he has more tools to deal with the emotions that involve the game”, says Ribeiro.

This need has gained even more importance in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic. According to a study released in April 2020 by Fifpro, the world players union, there was an increase in the number of players who reported some symptoms of depression or anxiety in the first months of the pandemic.

Among the women who participated in the study, 22% reported symptoms “consistent with a diagnosis of depression”, such as lack of interest, lack of appetite and lack of energy. Among men, that number was 13%. Between December 2019 and January 2020, the same survey had shown rates of 11% and 6%, respectively.

Although the most acute phase of the pandemic has passed, Eduardo Cillo says that studies by the WHO (World Health Organization) indicate that people will feel the psychological impacts of this period for at least ten years. In the case of athletes, the effect could be even worse.

“Athletes who have previously neglected mental health are likely to be dealing with more acute events regarding their own mindsets. And in that sense, they either recognize their weaknesses and need for care or they are likely to have more management difficulties. own emotions.”