The article from Milenio explores the intense mental and physical demands placed on professional athletes, particularly in contact sports like American football. It highlights an unwritten rule among athletes: perseverance at all costs, including ignoring the limits of body and mind. This cultural expectation not only shapes physically capable athletes but also trains their brains to endure without self-regulation, often leading to harmful consequences that are less visible than physical injuries.

The focus of public discourse has predominantly been on the visible aspects of sports injuries, such as concussions and neurological damage. However, the article brings to light a more insidious injury—the mental pattern of hyper-vigilance. Pilar Rojas, an industrial engineer and brain neurofeedback trainer, explains that hyper-vigilance results in a constant state of alertness, which can lead to long-term psychological impacts that are not easily quantifiable and often overlooked in discussions about athlete welfare.

This silent injury is particularly concerning, as it affects the mental health of athletes who are trained to perform under extreme conditions, potentially leading to anxiety, depression, and reduced quality of life after their sports careers end. The article emphasizes the need for greater awareness and support systems to address the mental health challenges in professional sports, suggesting that the invisible costs of performance must be acknowledged and addressed to ensure the well-being of athletes.