1. Role of Sport Psychology in Injury Rehabilitation
Each phase dictates different approaches to the psychology of recovery.
Injury-illness phase—focus on helping the athlete understand the injury.
Rehabilitation-recovery phase—focus attention on helping sustain motivation and adherence to rehabilitation protocols through goal setting and maintaining a positive attitude.
(continued)

2. Role of Sport Psychology in Injury Rehabilitation
Each phase dictates different approaches to the psychology of recovery.
Return to full activity phase—although an athlete is physically cleared for participation, complete recovery does not happen until normal competitive functioning occurs.

3. Role of Sport Psychology in Injury Rehabilitation
Build rapport with the injured party
Take the athlete’s perspective, provide emotional support, and be realistic but positive and optimistic.
Educate the injured person about the injury and recovery process
(continued)

4. Role of Sport Psychology in Injury Rehabilitation
Teach specific coping skills
Discuss goal setting, positive self-talk, imagery, visualization, and relaxation training.
Teach how to cope with setbacks.
Foster social support.
Learn from injured athletes.

5. Role of Sport Psychology in Injury Rehabilitation
Guidelines for providing social support
Provide social support to athletes (sources of support include coaches, significant others, and medical personnel).
Athletes generally turn to coaches and medical professionals for informational support and to family and friends for social support.
Social support needs to vary across rehabilitation phases.

6. Role of Sport Psychology in Injury Rehabilitation
The need for social support is greatest when setbacks occur or when other life demands add additional stress on the athlete.
While generally helpful, social support can have negative side effects (e.g., when the support provider does not have a good relationship or have credibility with the athlete or when support is “forced”).

7. Recommendations for Coping With Injuries for Other Injured Athletes
Accept and positively deal with the situation.
Focus on quality training.
Set goals.

8. Recommendations for Facilitating Rehabilitation for Coaches
Foster coach-athlete contact and involvement.
Demonstrate positive empathy and support.
Don’t repeatedly mention injury in training.

9. Recommendations for Facilitating Rehabilitation for Sports Medicine Personnel
Educate and inform athlete about injury and rehabilitation.
Foster positive interaction and customize training.
Demonstrate competence and confidence.