WEEK 13: 3/30/15 – 4/03/15 PSYCHOLOGY 310: SPORT & INJURY PSYCHOLOGY UNIVERSITY OF MARY INSTRUCTOR: DR. THERESA MAGELKY Sport Medicine Team Influences in Psychological Rehabilitation

Introduction It is important to provide well-rounded and holistic care to athletes when they are injured Ideally, the process of rehabilitation will involve various people working closely together for the benefit of the athlete Care should involve relevant sport medicine professionals as well as sport psychologists or those trained to provide psychological support A multidisciplinary team approach is a common practice in professional sports but less common in lower levels of participation A multidisciplinary approach to rehabilitation is important at all levels

The Multidisciplinary Approach to Rehabilitation Primary and Secondary Rehabilitation Teams: Primary rehabilitation team often consists of those sport medicine professionals who will work closely with the injured athlete from injury occurrence through the entire rehabilitation process until successful return to play  This typically involves the primary treatment providers including physical therapist, athletic trainer, physician, orthopedic surgeon  Research suggests that medical professionals in regular contact with the athlete during treatment are in an ideal position to inform, educate, and assist with both psychological and physical process of injury

The Multidisciplinary Approach to Rehabilitation (cont.) Secondary rehabilitation team ideally consists of a range of sport medicine and allied health professionals, as well as related others with whom injured athletes will have varying degrees of interaction throughout the course of their injury rehabilitation Although members of the secondary rehabilitation team may not be directly involved in the physical treatment of the injured athlete, these individuals contribute to athlete’s rehabilitation in multiple ways  These individuals include: sport nutritionist, podiatrist, dentist, sport psychologist, clinical/counseling psychologist, psychiatrist, sport/exercise physiologist, strength and conditioning coach, physical therapist, massage therapist, athletic coaches, parents/family, friends, spouse/partner, team mates, etc. Members of the primary and secondary rehabilitation teams may interact in a number of ways

Setting Up a Multidisciplinary Team: The Process In most cases injured athletes will already have a primary rehabilitation team in place However, members of secondary team may not be established The athletic trainer or physical trainer usually serve as the coordinator for the injured athlete’s rehab program and will determine who needs to be involved on the secondary team Decision should be made in consultation with the physician The injured athlete should also be involved in decision A meeting should be organized to formalize, identify, and introduce all members of both primary and secondary teams

Benefits of Multidisciplinary Approach to Rehabilitation Multidisciplinary approach to injury rehabilitation has potential to offer a number of benefits to injured athletes: Allows injured athletes to be exposed to a holistic approach to injury rehab & offers opportunities for once neglected areas such as psychological and social aspects to receive needed attention  Other professionals can bring a new perspective into rehab and offer athletes alternative outlooks Could make referral process more efficient May improve communication process among all involved in the rehab process

Role of Sport Medicine Professionals Members of primary rehabilitation team should take a leading role in the incorporation of a psychological component within injury rehab Sport medicine professionals who deal with athletes on a daily basis are in the best position to inform, educate, and assist injured athletes regarding the psychological and physical processes of injury

Role of Sport Medicine Professionals (cont.) According to Kolt (2003), sport medicine professionals are best suited to provide psychological assistance for injured athletes for 3 main reasons: 1. Psychological issues which often present themselves as a result of injury are often discussed in conjunction with physical aspects of rehabilitation. 2. The treatment and rehabilitation of injured athletes typically involves touch, which can often facilitate athletes opening up to their sport medicine professional about psychological issues in their recovery. 3. Existing studies suggest that athletes themselves feel that sport medicine professionals are in an ideal situation to address psychological aspects of injury.

Recommendations for Promoting and Using a Multidisciplinary Approach In order to incorporate a multidisciplinary approach to rehabilitation, the sport medicine professional should: Know their role in facilitating the multidisciplinary approach to rehabilitation Recognize the importance of significant others (e.g., team mates, friends, parents/family, spouse) in ensuring a holistic approach to recovery Demonstrate increased awareness of psychological issues which athletes may experience as a result of athletic injuries Think about ways in which psychology could be integrated into physical rehabilitation Continue to seek out additional training in the area of psychological rehabilitation Know professional boundaries and competencies Know when and to whom to refer athletes Have access to a network of other sport medicine and allied health professionals and related others

Possible Problems in Multidisciplinary Approach to Rehabilitation Possible problems in the multidisciplinary approach to rehabilitation include: Lack of awareness of the sport medicine professional’s prominent role in the multidisciplinary team The sport medicine professional’s lack of confidence and ability to take the lead in the team approach to rehabilitation The sport medicine professional’s lack of appropriate training and understanding of the importance of psychological aspects of sport injury rehabilitation The sport medicine professional’s lack of appropriate referral procedures and skills in making referrals

References Arvinen-Barrow, M., & Walker, N. (2013). The Psychology of Sport Injury and Rehabilitation (1 st ed.). Routledege.