1. Psychology Considerations for Rehab
CHAPTER 4
Psychology Considerations for Rehab

2. Psychological Factors in Athletic Injuries
Some 3 to 17 million people are injured each year in sport and exercise.
Physical factors are the primary causes of injury, but psychological factors can also contribute.

3. Psychological Antecedents
How Injuries Happen
Psychological Antecedents
Personality Factors
To date, personality factors associated with athlete injuries have not been successfully identified.
Stress Levels
People with high levels of life stress have more sport- and exercise-related injuries.

4. Psychological Antecedents
How Injuries Happen
Psychological Antecedents
The stress-injury relationship is complex.
Smith et al. (1990) found that life stress related to injuries only in “at-risk” athletes (those with few coping skills and low social support).
Individuals who have low self-esteem, are pessimistic and low in hardiness, or have higher levels of trait anxiety experience more injuries or loss of time due to injuries.
(continued)

5. Psychological Antecedents
How Injuries Happen
Psychological Antecedents
The stress-injury relationship is complex.
The greatest stress sources for injured athletes were not the physical aspects but the psychological ones (e.g., “fear” of reinjury, shattered hopes or dreams).
Teaching stress management can reduce risk of injury.

6. Explaining the Stress-Injury Relationship
Attentional Disruption
Stress disrupts an athlete’s attention by reducing peripheral attention and causing distraction and task-irrelevant thoughts.
Increased Muscle Tension
High stress can cause muscle tension and coordination interference.

7. Explaining the Stress-Injury Relationship
Other stress-injury relationship explanations:
Overemphasis on acting tough and a “giving 110%” attitude
Failure to distinguish between normal discomfort and injury pain
“You’re injured, you’re worthless” attitude

8. Psychological Reactions to Exercise and Athletic Injuries
Three general categories of emotional reactions to being injured:
1. Injury-relevant information processing
2. Emotional upheaval and reactive behaviors
3. Positive outlook, coping

9. Psychological Reactions to Exercise and Athletic Injuries
KEYS—
Most people experience a typical response to injury, but the speed and ease with which they progress through stages can vary widely.
The period immediately following injury is characterized by the greatest negative emotional reactions.