“I thought I was invincible until this happened!” Such were the words of a highly recruited university basketball player. She had never experienced a major injury before, and her entire life was drastically changed. What happens to physically active people when their lives are changed suddenly because of an injury? Is the psychological reaction of a university athlete different from that of a professional athlete? What makes one injured athlete respond to an injury and the recovery in a positive manner, while another athlete could give up and fail to complete a rehabilitation program? Stated quite simply, we do not have enough research to definitely answer these questions. Another injury that has recently gained considerable attention in the media and throughout sport is the concussion or mild traumatic brain injury. Parents, athletes, health-care professionals and administrators have all been drawn into the discussion about the potential long-term effect of concussions. This presentation focuses on: identifying some of the factors that affect injured athletes psychologically; how the reaction to a concussion or a musculoskeletal injury might differ; and finally, how this information might guide us in helping injured athletes.