psychological factors in athletic injuries. some 3 to 5 million people are injured each year in...

Psychological Psychological Factors in Factors in

Athletic InjuriesAthletic Injuries

Psychological Psychological Factors in Factors in

Athletic InjuriesAthletic InjuriesSome 3 to 5 million people are injured each year in sport Some 3 to 5 million people are injured each year in sport and exercise.and exercise.

Physical factors are the Physical factors are the primary causes of injury, but primary causes of injury, but psychological factors can also psychological factors can also contribute.contribute.

How Injuries HappenHow Injuries Happen

Personality FactorsPersonality Factors

Practice/TrainingPractice/Training

Stress LevelsStress Levels

Impact of InjuryImpact of Injury

- Overemphasis on acting tough and giving 110% Overemphasis on acting tough and giving 110% attitudeattitude

- Failure to distinguish between normal discomfort Failure to distinguish between normal discomfort and injury painand injury pain

- ““You’re injured” or “you’re worthless” attitude You’re injured” or “you’re worthless” attitude from coaches/teammatesfrom coaches/teammates

- Money/contracts/scholarshipsMoney/contracts/scholarships- The greatest stress are often psychological (e.g., The greatest stress are often psychological (e.g.,

“fear” of re-injury, shattered hopes or dreams).“fear” of re-injury, shattered hopes or dreams).

Athletes at RiskAthletes at Risk

Combination of conditions puts athletes at Combination of conditions puts athletes at greater risk of injury:greater risk of injury:– Negative life stressesNegative life stresses– Increase in daily hassles Increase in daily hassles – Previous injuriesPrevious injuries– Poor coping resourcesPoor coping resources

All mediated by athlete’s personalityAll mediated by athlete’s personality

Athletes at RiskAthletes at Risk

Study at University of Wisconsin:Study at University of Wisconsin:– Study assessed life stress of football players Study assessed life stress of football players

at UWat UW– 9% of players with low life stress experienced 9% of players with low life stress experienced

injuries that season (missed >3 practices or 1 injuries that season (missed >3 practices or 1 game)game)

– 50% of players with high life stress 50% of players with high life stress (personal/family problems) experienced (personal/family problems) experienced injuries that seasoninjuries that season

Reactions to InjuryReactions to Injury

Identity LossIdentity Loss– When athletes can no longer participate When athletes can no longer participate

because of an injury, they may experience a because of an injury, they may experience a loss of personal identity. That is, an important loss of personal identity. That is, an important part of themselves is lost, seriously affecting part of themselves is lost, seriously affecting self-concept.self-concept.


Fear and AnxietyFear and Anxiety– When injured, athletes can experience high When injured, athletes can experience high

levels of fear and anxiety. They worry about levels of fear and anxiety. They worry about whether they will recover, if re-injury will occur whether they will recover, if re-injury will occur and whether someone will replace them and whether someone will replace them permanently in the lineup.permanently in the lineup.

– Because the athlete cannot practice and Because the athlete cannot practice and compete, there’s plenty of time for worry.compete, there’s plenty of time for worry.


Lack of ConfidenceLack of Confidence– Given the inability to practice and compete, Given the inability to practice and compete,

and deteriorated physical status, athletes can and deteriorated physical status, athletes can lose confidence after an injury. Lowered lose confidence after an injury. Lowered confidence can result in decreased confidence can result in decreased motivation, inferior performance, or additional motivation, inferior performance, or additional injury because the athlete overcompensates.injury because the athlete overcompensates.

Signs of Poor Adjustment to Signs of Poor Adjustment to Athletic InjuriesAthletic Injuries

Feelings of anger and confusionFeelings of anger and confusion

Obsession with the question of when one Obsession with the question of when one can return to play.can return to play.

Denial (e.g., “The injury is no big deal.”).Denial (e.g., “The injury is no big deal.”).

Repeatedly coming back too soon and Repeatedly coming back too soon and experiencing re-injury.experiencing re-injury.

Exaggerated bragging about Exaggerated bragging about accomplishments.accomplishments.

Signs of Poor Adjustment to Signs of Poor Adjustment to Athletic InjuriesAthletic Injuries

Dwelling on minor physical complaints.Dwelling on minor physical complaints.

Guilt about letting the team down.Guilt about letting the team down.

Withdrawal from significant others.Withdrawal from significant others.

Rapid mood swings.Rapid mood swings.

Statements indicating that no matter what Statements indicating that no matter what is done, recovery will not occur.is done, recovery will not occur.

Strategies for Coping with InjuryStrategies for Coping with Injury

2 most common coping strategies are 2 most common coping strategies are problem-focused and emotion-focusedproblem-focused and emotion-focused


Problem-focused:Problem-focused:– Direct efforts at managing or altering the Direct efforts at managing or altering the

problem that causes the stressproblem that causes the stressEx. Learn about treatment optionsEx. Learn about treatment options

Setting (SMART) goalsSetting (SMART) goals

Adhering to rehabilitationAdhering to rehabilitation


Emotion-focused strategiesEmotion-focused strategies– Directed at managing the emotions that are Directed at managing the emotions that are

experienced as a result of the injuryexperienced as a result of the injuryEx. Positive self-talk Ex. Positive self-talk

Relaxation techniquesRelaxation techniques

Imagery to “practice” and relaxImagery to “practice” and relax

– These strategies involve dealing directly with These strategies involve dealing directly with the feelings of the injurythe feelings of the injury

Role of Sport Psychology in Injury Role of Sport Psychology in Injury RehabilitationRehabilitation

Key PointsKey Points– a holistic approach is needed, emphasizing a holistic approach is needed, emphasizing

both the healing of the mind and body.both the healing of the mind and body.– psychological factors play an important role in psychological factors play an important role in

injury recovery. (Orlick, 1991)injury recovery. (Orlick, 1991)– injury treatment should include psychological injury treatment should include psychological

techniques to enhance the healing and techniques to enhance the healing and recovery process.recovery process.


Build rapport with the injured party.Build rapport with the injured party.– Take the athlete’s perspective, provide Take the athlete’s perspective, provide

emotional support, and be realistic but emotional support, and be realistic but positive and optimistic.positive and optimistic.

– Educate the injured person about the injury Educate the injured person about the injury and recovery process.and recovery process.


Teach specific coping skills.Teach specific coping skills.– discuss goal setting, positive self-talk, discuss goal setting, positive self-talk,

imagery, visualization and relaxation training.imagery, visualization and relaxation training.

Teach how to cope with setbacks.Teach how to cope with setbacks.

Foster social support.Foster social support.

Learn from injured athletes.Learn from injured athletes.

Recommendations for Facilitating Recommendations for Facilitating Rehabilitation for CoachesRehabilitation for Coaches

Faster coach-athlete contact and Faster coach-athlete contact and involvement.involvement.

Demonstrate positive empathy and Demonstrate positive empathy and support.support.

Don’t repeatedly mention injury in training.Don’t repeatedly mention injury in training.

psychological factors in athletic injuries. some 3 to 5 million people are injured each year in...

Documents