© 2007 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Mind is affected when the body is injured Negative psychological response will make rehab take longer and be more difficult Injury can affect an athlete physically and socially Chapter 11: Helping the Injured Athlete Psychologically

© 2007 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Athletes Psychological Response to Injury Athletes deal with injury differently –Viewed as disastrous, –Opportunity to show courage –Use as an excuse for poor performance Severity of injury and length of rehab –Short term (<4 weeks) –Long term (>4 weeks) –Chronic (recurring) –Terminating (career ending)

© 2007 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Athletes will react to these 3 things with every injury: –Reaction to injury –Reaction to rehabilitation –Reaction to return to play or termination of career

© 2007 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Stages of Grief by Elizabeth Coubler-Ross Denial Anger Bargaining Depression Acceptance

© 2007 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Predictors of Injury Some psychological traits may predispose athlete to injury –No one personality type –Risk takers, reserved, detached or tender-minded players, apprehensive, over-protective or easily distracted –Lack ability to cope with stress associated risks –Other potential contributors include attempting to reduce anxiety by being more aggressive or continuing to be injured because of fear of failure or guilt associated with unattainable goals

© 2007 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Athlete under stress is more likely get injured as compared to someone not under stress –Example Angered athlete may attempt to take out frustrations on other players, lose perspective on desired and approved conduct Skill and coordination could be sacrificed resulting in injury that may have been avoided Injury Prevention is Physical and Mental

© 2007 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Stress and Risk of Injury Stress is can disrupt the body’s equilibrium –Tells body how to react Studies have shown stress negatively affects sports –Results in decreased focus and creates muscle tension which reduces flexibility, coordination, & movement efficiency

© 2007 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.

Overtraining Creates more physical and mental stress than the athlete can handle Can lead to staleness and eventually burnout Must be able to recognize signs and change the activity level –Have days off to rest –Keep intensity, but shorten practice time –Gradually return full practice –Be removed from games during this time

© 2007 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Staleness –Numerous reasons: training to long and hard w/out rest Outside stress Little positive reinforcement –Makes athletes more at-risk for injury Signs and Symptoms –Decrease in performance, –chronic fatigue, –apathy, –loss of appetite, indigestion, weight loss –inability to sleep or rest

© 2007 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Burnout –Syndrome related to physical and emotional exhaustion leading to negative concept of self, job and sports attitudes, and loss of concern for feeling of others –Burnout stems from staleness that is not treated –Very common in athletic trainers –Can impact health Headaches, GI disturbances, sleeplessness, chronic fatigue Feel depersonalization, increased emotional exhaustion, reduced sense of accomplishment, cynicism and depressed mood

© 2007 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Goal Setting as a Motivator to Compliance Effective motivator for compliance in rehab and for reaching goals Athletic performance based on working towards and achieving goals With athletic rehabilitation, athletes are aware of the goal and what must be done to accomplish Goals must be personal and internally satisfying and jointly agreed upon

© 2007 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. To enhance goal attainment the following must be involved –Positive reinforcement, time management for incorporating goals into lifestyle, feeling of social support, feelings of self-efficacy, Goals can be daily, weekly, monthly, and/or yearly

© 2007 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Providing Social Support to the Injured Athlete Coach and AT must show the athlete they care Be a good listener Be aware of body language Have personal relationship Keep them involved in practice and games Incorporate sport into rehab when possible