Don’t Let Your Injury Define You. Overcome it.
Injury happens. But how you deal with it can make a huge difference.
An injury doesn’t just sideline your body — it tests your mindset.
When sports are part of who you are, being unable to play can feel frustrating, isolating, and discouraging. Physical recovery has a plan. Mental recovery often doesn’t. Strong Mind, Strong Athlete is here to change that.
Because healing isn’t just about getting back in the game, it’s about building the strength to come back stronger than before. There are 3 steps you can start to take to strengthen your mind, confidence, and speed your recovery.
1. Accept Where You Are
Injury is part of sports, not the end of your story. Acknowledge the frustration, but don’t let it define you. Acceptance is the starting line for growth.
2. Train Your Mind Daily
You may not be able to train your body the same way, but you can train your mindset. Small daily progress. Practice gratitude. Visualize your comeback.
3. Come Back Stronger
Use this time to build resilience, patience, and confidence. When your body heals, your mindset will already be stronger than before.
This website can help you train your mind and introduce you to simple resources to set your mindset right.
Some encouraging videos to help you while you heal from your injury
Your injury isn’t the end, it’s the start of something new.
“Setbacks don’t erase strength”
— Strong Mind, Strong Athlete
Believe.
Heal.
Rise.
— Strong Mind, Strong Athlete
Positivity FUELS healing.
— Strong Mind, Strong Athlete
Hi, I’m McKinley.
When I was 11, I had a major knee injury, where I broke my knee. Over the next year, I had 2 knee surgeries on that knee and wasn’t able to do the sport I love and have been doing since I was 4 years old.
I was devastated and felt down. Then I worked hard and began to get my strength back, only to have my other knee dislocate several times over a couple month period, meaning another knee surgery.
For almost 2 years I was out of my sport and had to learn how to cope with my injury and become mentally strong during the process.
The good news is I healed and came back stronger than ever before… both physically… and mentally. So I wanted to share with other young athletes some resources and inspiration in hopes that it’ll help you have a strong mind during your healing process so you can comeback stronger than ever.
– McKinley
Things you may be thinking about on our journey to heal…
What is Strong Mind, Strong Athlete?
Strong Mind, Strong Athlete is a public service initiative in Roseburg, OR created to support young athletes who are recovering from sports injuries.
Our mission is to help athletes stay mentally strong, hopeful, and confident while their bodies heal.
Why is mindset important during injury recovery?
An injury doesn’t just affect your body, it can affect your confidence, motivation, and emotions.
Having a strong mindset helps you:
- Stay positive during setbacks
- Focus on what you can control
- Build resilience and mental toughness
- Come back stronger, both mentally and physically
Healing is physical and mental.
What kind of resources do you provide?
We share with schools, teams, and physical therapy centers…
- Encouraging quotes to help uplift you during your healing process
- Videos from athletes who have recovered from injuries
- Mindset tips to stay motivated during recovery
- Simple mental exercises to build confidence and resilience
Everything is designed to support athletes during the healing process.
Who is this for?
Strong Mind, Strong Athlete is for:
- Young athletes recovering from injuries
- Parents supporting injured athletes
- Coaches who want to encourage their teams
If you’re navigating recovery, this space is for you.
How can I stay strong while I recover?
Recovery takes patience. Here are a few reminders:
- Focus on daily progress, not just the end goal
- Celebrate small wins
- Stay connected to your team and sport
- Talk about your feelings — it’s okay to struggle
- Remember: this setback does not define you
You are still an athlete — even while healing.
How do I get some encouraging posters for our school or to display in our medical practice?
Amazing! You can click this link to download the image files for encouraging posters and tips you can display anywhere you choose. We’ll add new ones to the Google Drive folder from time to time.