Rugby union players’ perspectives of physiotherapists’ use of sport psychology in injury rehabilitation

Context: Certified athletic trainers (ATs) are responsible for integrating relevant professionals into the rehabilitation team to assist with the holistic care of injured athletes. Objective: To explore National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I (DI) ATs' experience with sport psychology consultants (SPCs), willingness to encourage athletes to use SPCs for injury rehabilitation, and perceptions of the benefits of sport psychology services. Design: Quantitative study. Setting: A Web-based survey was administered to a national sample of DI ATs. Patients or Other Participants: A total of 659 (341 men, 318 women) ATs completed the survey. Main Outcome Measure(s): Athletic trainers' experience with SPCs, willingness to encourage athletes to seek sport psychology services, and perceptions of the benefits of those services in injury-rehabilitation settings were self-reported using a rating scale that ranged from 1 (never or not at all) to 5 (definitely or extremely). Results: Logistic regression revealed that the availability of SPCs, previous encouragement to athletes to seek sport psychology services, and previous positive interactions with SPCs predicted the ATs' willingness to encourage athletes to use these services (P < .0001). The services ATs rated the highest for injury rehabilitation were managing anxiety and emotion, improving coping techniques, and building confidence (ie, confidence in returning to sport and building confidence). Chi-square analyses indicated that female ATs' ratings of perceived benefits were higher (P ≤ .001) than those of male ATs, and the ratings of ATs who were likely to encourage the use of SPCs were higher (P ≤ .001) than those who were unlikely to encourage SPC service use. Conclusions: Athletic trainers in our study who had previous positive SPC experiences were most likely to use SPCs and their services during the injury-rehabilitation process. Possible implications are offered for how ATs interested in sport psychology services might call on SPCs to complement their work with injured athletes.

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Certified Athletic Trainers’ Experiences With and Perceptions of Sport Psychology Services for Student-Athletes

The Sport Psychologist ◽

10.1123/tsp.2017-0119 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 32 (4) ◽

pp. 300-310

Author(s):

Rebecca A. Zakrajsek ◽

Leslee A. Fisher ◽

Scott B. Martin

Keyword(s):

Sport Psychology ◽

National Collegiate Athletic Association ◽

Athletic Trainers ◽

Sport Performance ◽

Consensual Qualitative Research ◽

Collaborative Relationships ◽

Injury Rehabilitation ◽

Certified Athletic Trainers ◽

Sport Teams ◽

Use Of Services

Nine (5 female, 4 male) certified athletic trainers (ATs) from a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I institution participated in semistructured interviews about their experiences with sport psychology services and perceptions on the potential role of sport psychology consultants (SPCs) in student-athlete development. Through consensual qualitative research procedures, 3 domains were constructed: knowledge of availability and understanding of sport psychology services, perceptions of sport psychology services for injury rehabilitation, and use of sport psychology services for sport performance. Interacting professionally with SPCs, working with sport teams that use sport psychology services, and receiving mentorship from senior ATs who have “bought in” to sport psychology were identified as underlying factors that influenced ATs’ knowledge and use of services. Recommendations for how SPCs can nurture collaborative relationships between themselves and ATs are also provided.

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ACL Injury Rehabilitation: A Psychological Case Study of a Professional Rugby Union Player

Journal of Clinical Sport Psychology ◽

10.1123/jcsp.2.1.71 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 2 (1) ◽

pp. 71-90 ◽

Cited By ~ 25

Author(s):

Fraser Carson ◽

Remco C. J. Polman

Keyword(s):

Coping Strategies ◽

Cruciate Ligament ◽

Methodological Approach ◽

Acl Injury ◽

Rugby Union ◽

Self Report ◽

Injury Rehabilitation ◽

Rehabilitation Process ◽

Anterior Cruciate

The aim of this case study was to investigate the emotional factors and coping strategies used by a professional rugby union player during rehabilitation from anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury. A dominant (qualitative) - less dominant (quantitative) mixed methodological approach was established concurrent with the athlete’s rehabilitation. Twice monthly interviews and a self-report diary were completed throughout the rehabilitation process. Six questionnaires were used to assess specific aspects of injury rehabilitation identified from previous literature, including emotional response, coping, social support, and perceived autonomy. Content analysis of each phase of the rehabilitation process established 34 higher-order themes split into two general dimensions: Influential Emotions or Coping Strategies. Findings highlight the benefit of problem-focused coping to improve autonomy and confidence. A sequential movement through a series of emotions (shock, depression, relief, encouragement, and confidence building) was also identified.

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Sport psychology strategies, types of social support, and adherence to injury rehabilitation among university student -athletes

10.33915/etd.1935 ◽

2003 ◽

Author(s):

Kenneth Tubilleja

Keyword(s):

Social Support ◽

Sport Psychology ◽

Student Athletes ◽

University Student ◽

Injury Rehabilitation

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Sophisticated Games Psychology Can Assist the Common Sportsperson

IJOSTHE ◽

10.24113/ojssports.v2i6.89 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 2 (6) ◽

pp. 2

Author(s):

Rajeev Tiwari

Keyword(s):

Performance Improvement ◽

Sport Psychology ◽

Psychological Factors ◽

Team Building ◽

Physical Factors ◽

Psychological Skills ◽

Injury Rehabilitation ◽

The Common ◽

Sport And Exercise ◽

And Training

Game psychology is an interdisciplinary science that draws on knowledge from many related fields including biomechanics, physiology, kinesiology and psychology. It involves the study of how psychological factors affect performance and how participation in sport and exercise affect psychological and physical factors.[1] In addition to instruction and training of psychological skills for performance improvement, applied sport psychology may include work with athletes, coaches, and parents regarding injury, rehabilitation, communication, team building, and career transitions.

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Is there a link between previous exposure to sport injury psychology education and UK sport injury rehabilitation professionals' attitudes and behaviour towards sport psychology?

Physical Therapy in Sport ◽

10.1016/j.ptsp.2016.08.006 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 23 ◽

pp. 99-104 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Caroline A. Heaney ◽

Claire L. Rostron ◽

Natalie C. Walker ◽

Alison J.K. Green

Keyword(s):

Sport Psychology ◽

Sport Injury ◽

Previous Exposure ◽

Injury Rehabilitation ◽

Psychology Education ◽

Rehabilitation Professionals ◽

Injury Psychology

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Role of Sport Medicine Professionals in Addressing Psychosocial Aspects of Sport-Injury Rehabilitation: Professional Athletes' Views

Journal of Athletic Training ◽

10.4085/1062-6050-49.3.44 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 49 (6) ◽

pp. 764-772 ◽

Cited By ~ 22

Author(s):

Monna Arvinen-Barrow ◽

William V. Massey ◽

Brian Hemmings

Keyword(s):

Sport Medicine ◽

Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis ◽

Sport Injury ◽

Rugby Union ◽

Psychosocial Aspects ◽

Professional Athletes ◽

Semistructured Interview ◽

Injury Rehabilitation ◽

Injured Athletes

Context: Research from the sport medicine professional's (SMP's) perspective indicates that SMPs are often required to address psychosocial aspects of injuries during treatment. However, only a few authors have investigated injured athletes' experiences with these concerns. Objective: To explore injured professional athletes' views on the role of SMPs in the psychosocial aspects of sport-injury rehabilitation. Design Qualitative study. Setting: Professional association football and rugby union clubs. Patients or Other Participants: Ten professional, male football (n = 4; 40%) and rugby union (n = 6; 60%) players (age = 22.4 ± 3.4 years). Data Collection and Analysis We collected data using a semistructured interview guide, and the data were then transcribed and analyzed following the interpretative phenomenological analysis guidelines. We peer reviewed and triangulated the established emergent themes to establish trustworthiness. Results: Athletes in our study viewed injuries as “part and parcel” of their sports. Despite normalizing sport injuries, athletes reported frequent feelings of frustration and self-doubt throughout the rehabilitation process. However, athletes' perceived the role of SMPs in injury rehabilitation as addressing physical concerns; any intervention aimed at psychosocial outcomes (eg, motivation, confidence) needed to be subtle and indirect. Conclusions: The SMPs working with injured athletes need to understand the psychosocial principles that underpin athletes' sport-injury processes and the effect psychosocial reactions can have on athletes. Moreover, SMPs must understand the self-regulatory processes that may take place throughout injury rehabilitation and be able to apply psychological principles in natural and subtle ways to aid athletes' self-regulatory abilities.

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