How athletes can benefit from EMDR

For athletes, the mind and body must work in unison to achieve peak performance. However, the connection between the two can become disrupted for some, leading to a condition known as lost move syndrome (LMS).

This psychological and physiological block can leave athletes unable to perform movements they once excelled at, and is often triggered by stress, burnout or fear of failure.

“Experiencing psychological stress, having trauma from an injury, making a mistake during a high stakes game or performance, or encountering an overly critical coach can create a buildup of stress, anxiety and pressure,” explains Melissa Rukamp, a certified EMDR (eye movement desensitization & reprocessing) psychotherapist at Aurora Health Care. “This can overwhelm the brain and body’s ability to process complex movements and skills needed for high level performers and athletes. Athletes who experience LMS may feel as though their bodies have forgotten how to execute a once mastered skill, even though they know how to do it on a conscious level.”

This disconnect can be debilitating, especially when it affects your performance at critical moments, such as during a competition or high stakes game. LMS can impact any athlete or performer. In sports, such as gymnastics, baseball, golf or figure skating, athletes may recognize LMS as the “twisties,” “yips,” a “slump,” or “freezing” mid-game or -skill.

Fortunately, a therapeutic approach called eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) has shown promise in helping athletes overcome these mental barriers.

“EMDR identifies and desensitizes the original distressing memory or moment when the block began,” Rukamp says. “Through bilateral stimulation, like the back-and-forth movements of the eyes or tapping right to left, EMDR helps the brain process and release fear, and the movement is no longer tied to panic, dread or hesitation. Once positive beliefs are instilled and reinforced, the athlete can stop overthinking and trust their mind-body connection to move freely again.”

Unlike traditional talk therapy, Rukamp says EMDR often brings results in fewer sessions, making it ideal for athletes who need to return to training with clarity and calm.

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