“I’m not letting this slip through my fingers,’’ she said. “I’m gonna do it, end of story. I’m not letting myself go down that path. I’m not crying. My head is high. I’m standing tall and I’m gonna do my best, whatever the result is, that’s what it is, but I’ll never say I didn’t try,’’ said Vonn. 

This is not her first ACL tear. It is her third, to go along with a fractured ankle, knee, humerus, microfractures in her forearm, tibial fractures in her leg, a torn LCL, two torn MCLs and an acute facet dysfunction of her back – better known as debilitating spasms brought on by trauma.

Watching the sport go on without her wasn’t easy, but she had made her choice and made peace with it as well. When , crafted a 3D version of her knee to use as a model for her titanium replacement, it wasn’t about returning to skiing. It was about living a life without pain.

Read the full story at cnn.com.

This coverage originally appeared on cbsnews.com. The original article is no longer available online.

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Dr. Roche recommended a trainer or physical therapist for feedback and an objective opinion on performance. She added, “Sometimes you’re so entrenched in your mindset that it’s hard to have objectivity.”

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Dr. Roche said, “Managing injury, stress, and anxiety — both during training and on race day — is key to one’s success.”

She continued, “The best advice I can recommend is to be flexible. While we may have a plan for training and race day, be willing to adjust.”

Dr. Roche suggested setting small goals to build to bigger ones. She explained, “If you are feeling fatigued early, focus on just getting to the next stop sign, and then pick another spot and focus on getting to that one — maybe it’s the fourth tree. By keeping the goals smaller, you will likely get through the rough patch, and you will feel [well enough] to pick up your pace later.”

Read the full article at Wellandgood.com.

Dr. Roche shares insight into networking to build a sports psychology practice and how she sets limits and boundaries, including how she recharges.

Additionally, she offered advice to other women looking to go into sports psychology. “Get as much experience you can get working around athletes and understanding the culture and unique needs… they do have unique pressures on them. Get as much experience on the ground as you can and observing. The whole community makes this work and if you don’t understand the entire landscape you will miss important pieces that help everybody because you are there to help the best way you can,” cited Dr. Roche.

Listen to the full episode at Madamathlete.com.

Dr. Roche discussed her role in developing the online course for health professionals titled, “Your role in preventing abuse in sports,” and key takeaways noting, “What I really liked about the course is its designed to not only educate, but increases the awareness and then provides strategies to support your athletes. We made an effort to appreciate first and foremost as a professional, what is your obligation ethically and legally to wards your athletes? Address ways to that you can report and how to intervene and promote a safe space where they can thrive.” She continued, “We did tackle all of those which is remarkable in a very friendly format that I think is easy and engaging to follow.”

Additionally, Dr. Roche cited, “I think we want to recognize we [physicians] are in leadership positions and that we provide a very unique, crucial perspective and have great value that we’re adding. Everyone wants to care for an athlete in multidisciplinary ways . To recognize that leadership role, and that you’re part of this team and to have that integrated approach to helping for the athlete.

The athlete is more than the abuse they may have suffered - or more than the sport they participate. They’re a whole person we want to treat and help and help them thrive in and out of sport.

Listen to the podcast at Buzzsprout.com.

“Everyone is on their own trajectory, especially since running is so individual,” Dr. Roche had said. “You have to figure out your own intention of why you run in the first place. Are you out there to stay fit? To clear your head? Do you want to improve your times? Do you want to qualify for a major race?”

Dr. Roche explained how to redefine success to help with frustrations that may arise.

Read the full article at RunnersWorld.com.

“The small reminders that come from audio-guided runs can really pay off,” said Polly de Mille RN, MA, RCEP, CSCS, USAT, director of the Tisch Sports Performance Center at HSS, who added that these apps can cue you through workouts by managing your time so you are free to focus on just running.

“While the accountability is different when you know you’re meeting a group or friend, you have to zoom out and see the value of the activity on your own,” said Deborah N. Roche, PhD, sports psychologist at HSS, who explained the importance of exercise in order to clear your mind and reboot.

Read the full article at RunnersWorld.com.

Research shows that bouts of exercise under 60 minutes can be great for the immune system, and HSS exercise physiologist, Polly de Mille RN, MA, RCEP, CSCS, USAT, explained now more than ever, it’s important not to over train. “As a woman, it’s important to work on bone density, which can be done with a walk or any weight-bearing exercise,” said de Mille. “And depending on your speed or if you’re walking up a hill, it can still be a great workout. You’re also still working a lot of the same musculature [of running] without the high-impact forces, that same gait pattern without excessive eccentric stress to your muscles. Although it’s different, it’s still helpful.”

HSS sports psychologist, Deborah N. Roche, PhD, added, “It’s important to have some grace with yourself and do the best you can. Right now, the goal with movement should be to get away from the fight or flight. You want to breathe and shift that arousal level. And a walk is a great place to start.”

Read the full article at Runnersworld.com.

Roche explained that while virtual togetherness doesn’t replace the real thing, its motivating to see a teammate or friend when you open the screen of your computer. “There's camaraderie and motivation in that. Even though we may not know when we're getting back to normal, we'll be able to do this together,” said Roche.

de Mille added one might be more open to trying something new when working out at home. "The great thing about working out in the privacy of your own home is that you're not so worried about what other people think of you. This means that maybe you're open to a little more of making a fool of yourself than otherwise, which can make for a fun time trying new workouts with friends."

Read the full article at Livestrong.com.

“When things are hard, naturally our brain is like back off,” said Dr. Roche. “But distinguishing between the bad pain and the good, successful pain, is important. When you’re running for speed, you want to be able to make it to the finish line and know that you left it all out there,” she noted. “You have to visualize what you want in this moment where it feels impossible,” she cited. “By talking yourself up and having phrases that make you feel confident, you can push through walls.”

Dr. Roche concluded, “It doesn’t matter the distance, every race has its challenges. You went into the race thinking ‘I’ve done tons of one miles,’ but those miles were different. You weren’t doing them all out. Just like any challenge, with time and practice, it will feel different, and you’ll get better.”

Read the article at Wellandgood.com.

Samuel A. Taylor, MD, sports medicine surgeon at HSS, Deborah N. Roche, PhD, sports psychologist at HSS, and Heidi Skolnik, MS CDN FACSM, nutritionist at HSS, were invited to speak to students and their parents about musculoskeletal health in adolescents; eating habits to help with academic and athletic performance; and managing obstacles (e.g., injury) while achieving peak performance in athletics and academics.

Read the full article on GoodMorningWilton.com.