Why the Words We Use Can Change an Athlete’s Entire Rehab

One thing I’ve learned working with hockey players across North America is that rehab is never just about the injury. It’s about the story the athlete starts to believe about their body. And that story is shaped by the words we use as clinicians, coaches, and parents.

Most people picture rehab as a purely physical process. Exercise selection. Muscle activation. Fixing mechanics. All of that matters. But the psychological and social pieces are just as important, especially in a sport where confidence and identity are tied to how you move on the ice.

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When an athlete hears phrases like avoid this or stop doing that, that language can influence their recovery far more than the actual hip, groin, or back issue they came in with.

Here’s a scenario I see in hockey communities everywhere, from youth programs to junior and college levels. A player comes in with hip pain. It’s a common presentation in skating athletes.

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In a traditional setting, they may be pulled away from lower body lifts and given only low-load drills like clamshells. It feels safe. But the underlying message often becomes:

Your hip isn’t strong enough. You should be cautious. You’re not ready to train with your team.

That’s when confidence drops. They start skipping team lifts, lose strength, and begin associating normal gym movements with risk. This happens in rinks and training rooms across the US and Canada every season. And it slows recovery more than the original irritation ever would.

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Our approach at Ghost Rehab and Performance, whether I’m working with athletes locally or remotely, is to adjust rather than eliminate. If a trap bar deadlift is uncomfortable, we tweak the stance, depth, or load. If a squat pattern doesn’t feel great that day, we shorten the range or adjust the tempo. The athlete stays engaged with their team environment and continues building the strength they need for skating, shooting, and battling in the corners.

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More importantly, they learn that discomfort isn’t the same as damage. They start to trust their hip again. They stay connected to their training group instead of feeling sidelined. And that alone changes their trajectory.

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This is the heart of the biopsychosocial approach. It acknowledges that athletes don’t just rehab a joint. They rehab their confidence, their routine, and their identity as a hockey player. The language we use either reinforces fear or builds resilience. And when we choose language that supports the athlete, they return to the ice stronger physically and mentally.

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If you or your athlete needs guidance with this kind of approach, reach out anytime.

Dr. Jamie

Ghost Rehab and Performance