Perspectives of Sport Trainers and Athletic Therapists on the Psychological Content of their Practice and Training (original) (raw)
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Psychological Aspects of Athletic Injuries as Perceived by Athletic Trainers
Sport Psychologist, 1996
This study investigated the perceptions of certified athletic trainers concerning their attitudes, beliefs, and application of a variety of psychological strategies and techniques used in the treatment and rehabilitation of athletic injuries. The Athletic Training and Sport Psychology Questionnaire (ATSPQ) was adapted from instruments developed by Wiese, Weiss, and Yukelson (1991) and Brewer, Van Raalte, and Linder (1991). The ATSPQ, a letter of introduction, and a self-addressed stamped envelope were distributed to 1,000 certified athletic trainers randomly selected from the membership database maintained by the National Athletic Trainers' Association (NATA). Only 482 (48.2%) of these questionnaires returned were usable. 47% of athletic trainers who responded believe that every injured athlete suffers psychological trauma. 24% reported that they have referred an athlete for counseling for situations related to their injury, and 25% reported that they have a sport psychologist as a member of their sports medicine team. This study concludes that future education of athletic trainers should address the psychological aspects of injury treatment as well as the development of a sport psychology referral network. Athletic trainers are the primary health care professional for injured athletes (NATA, 1992a). As many advocates of psychological intervention strategies have stated, the athletic trainer is in the ideal position to handle the psychological aspect of athletic injuries and rehabilitation (
Psychological issues in sport injury rehabilitation: current knowledge and practice
Journal of athletic training, 1996
The importance of addressing psychological issues in athletic injury rehabilitation has been recognized by the medical community. When and how to address psychological ramifications of injury, however, have not been given sufficient attention. VARIOUS FACTORS ARE ASSOCIATED WITH ATHLETIC INJURY: models of adjustment to athletic injury, a 10-point assessment inventory, and some techniques employed by sport psychologists to address psychological responses to injury will be discussed. The purpose of this paper is to outline specific guidelines to follow when assessing athletes and counseling them following athletic injuries. By implementing these guidelines, the athletic trainer can: 1)establish trust and rapport, 2) become familiar with the athlete's perception of the injury, and 3) attempt to get the athlete to commit to treatment. CLINICAL ADVANTAGE: Often, athletes are treated for their physical complaints without giving attention to their psychological needs. These techniques ...
International Journal of Sports, Health and Physical Education, 2022
All athletes get injured at some point, with this hindering performance and disrupting the individual's daily routine. In their quest to heal the injury physically, physiotherapists often overlook the psychological aspects and, this can be a limiting factor in athletes returning to play (RTP) confidently. This qualitative study explores the perceptions and attitudes physiotherapists hold regarding the use of psychological interventions during rehabilitation as research in this area is limited. Six physiotherapists were interviewed to gather an in-depth understanding of their knowledge and experiences. Data was analysed using Thematic Analysis (TA). The main themes that emerged were: physiotherapists' injury perception; factors influencing an injury; lack of psychological interventions; professional versus amateur; and psychological interventions employed. All physiotherapists were well-informed regarding the psychological effects of the injury on the athlete and how such effects influence rehabilitation and performance upon RTP. However, results indicate that the use of psychological interventions in sports rehabilitation is still lacking. Participants noted a lack of resources and knowledge on the subject; time constraints as well as the topic being underestimated as possible reasons for this. Five out of the six physiotherapists interviewed have liaised with a sports psychologist and seen a change in pre and post psychological interventions. The results of this study imply the need for physiotherapists to be educated further regarding the use of psychological skills for rehabilitation as well as for sports psychologists to be better embedded within a clinic or club's medical team.
Psychosocial Aspects of Athletic Injuries as Perceived by Athletic Trainers
Journal of athletic training
Context : Despite the Psychosocial Strategies and Referral content area, athletic trainers (ATs) generally lack confidence in their ability to use this information.(1) Objective : The current study's primary purpose was to determine: (a) perceived psychological responses and coping behaviors athletes may present to ATs, (b) psychosocial strategies ATs currently use with their athletes, (c) psychosocial strategies ATs deem important to learn more about, and (d) ATs' current practices in referring athletes to counseling or sport psychology services. Design : Mixed-methods study. Setting : Online survey containing both quantitative and qualitative items. Patients or Other Participants : A total of 215 ATs (86 male, 129 female), representing a response rate of 22.50%. Main Outcome Measure(s) : The Athletic Training and Sport Psychology Questionnaire. Results : Stress/anxiety (4.24 ± 0.82), anger (3.70 ± 0.96), and treatment adherence problems (3.62 ± 0.94) were rated as the prim...
Sport Psychology in the Training Room: A Survey of Athletic Trainers
The Sport Psychologist, 1991
Although athletic injury is common in sport, little is documented about the application of psychological principles to injury rehabilitation. This study surveyed athletic trainers on the use of psychological strategies with injured athletes. Athletic trainers (N = 115) responded to Likert rating scales on athlete characteristics, efficacy of psychological strategies, and perceived importance of trainer knowledge about psychological strategies. Results revealed that trainers distinguished between athletes coping most versus least successfully with injury on characteristics of willingness to listen, positive attitude, intrinsic motivation, and willingness to learn about the injury and rehabilitation techniques. Trainers rated effective psychological techniques for facilitating athlete recovery as good interpersonal communication skills, positive reinforcement, coach support, and keeping the athlete involved with the team. Knowledge about using a positive communication style, strategie...
Psychology in sports injury rehabilitation
British journal of nursing (Mark Allen Publishing)
Using the case study of an 18-year-old track athlete with a chronic Achilles tendinopathy, this article identifies risk factors associated with training for major athletic events, such as the forthcoming Olympic Games, and presents evidence for adopting a multidisciplinary approach to the treatment and management of athletic injury, addressing the physical aspects of the injury, as well as the psychological needs of the athlete. The athlete's GP and practice nurse, as well as a podiatrist and sport psychologist, are all involved in providing an accurate clinical diagnosis, effective physical intervention, and psychological skills training to address emotional issues and encourage adherence to the rehabilitation programme. Nurses, in both secondary and primary care, can play a crucial role; in this case, the practice nurse recognised the adverse impact that the injury was having on the athlete's emotional wellbeing before making a referral to a trained sport psychologist.
The Psychological Aspects of Injury in Sport
International Journal of Social Science and Interdisciplinary Research, 2013
Athletes participating in sport are exposed to a relatively high injury risk. Age, gender, injury history, body size, local anatomy and biomechanics, aerobic fitness, muscle strength, and psychosocial factors as well as general mental ability are factors in the predisposition to injury. The main focus of the evaluations and prevention programs is also on the treatment of physical injuries and treatments of psychiatric/psychological issues have been addressed at a minimum. However Psychological issues of injury for sport are an essential aspect of successful sports performance at all times. It includes psychological variables as predictors of injury occurrence, athlete‟s psychological response to injury, psychological aspects of the rehabilitation process, and also psychological readiness to return to competition. With regard to the psychological response to injury, a few factors such as emotions and behaviour of the injured athletes have been identified. Studies on the psychological...
Journal of Athletic Training, 2014
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...
Certified Athletic Trainers’ Understanding and Use of Sport Psychology in Their Practice
Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, 2016
Nine certified athletic trainers (ATs) from one National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I institution participated in semi-structured interviews about their understanding of sport psychology and use of psychological strategies in their work with injured athletes. Through Consensual Qualitative Research (Hill, 2012) procedures, three major domains were constructed: (a) Recognition of the common psychological challenges of injury rehabilitation; (b) Knowledge and understanding of sport psychology; and (c) Utilization of sport psychology skills and strategies for rehabilitation. While ATs utilized basic psychological strategies (e.g., goal-setting, reassurance) during injury rehabilitation, findings support the need for an interprofessional team approach to enhancing psychological recovery.
Physiotherapists' and male professional athletes' views on psychological skills for rehabilitation
Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, 2000
In the literature on the psychological aspects of rehabilitation from athletic injury, several studies in North America have focused on athletic trainers' roles as physical and psychological caregivers for injured athletes. Wiese, Weiss, and Yukelson (1991) examined the views of athletic trainers on the psychological characteristics that distinguished athletes who coped well, versus those who coped poorly with rehabilitation, and also sought athletic trainers opinions on the role of psychological skills in injury rehabilitation. This study replicated the Wiese et al. (1991) study with Australian physiotherapists and extended it to include the viewpoints of professional basketball players. The results indicated the importance attached to communication and motivation by both physiotherapists and athletes in the rehabilitation process. Both athletes and physiotherapists did not, however, thJ~ak psychological skills such as relaxation or imagery techniques to be particularly useful tools in the recovery process.