How do I overcome fear of re-injury after ACL surgery?
Fear of re-injury after ACL surgery is very common, even when your knee is physically ready. Gradual, guided return-to-sport training builds trust in your knee, and mental skills or psychotherapy can help you work through the fear.
What helps build confidence
- Clear, measurable return-to-sport milestones
- Practising sport-specific movements step by step
- Positive self-talk and visualisation
- Talking openly about the fear instead of pushing it away
Signs fear may be holding you back
- Avoiding cutting, jumping or contact
- Hesitating or guarding the knee in play
- Feeling anxious when you think about returning
When to get it checked
Our physiotherapists and psychotherapists can work together so your body and mind are both ready to return.
At Performance Sports Therapy in Gloucester, our psychotherapy team and our physiotherapy team can help you find the cause and build a plan.
Related: how do I get over performance anxiety before a race, what are the symptoms of burnout in competitive athletes.