1. Sports Psychology

2. Athletes Reaction to Injury
Treatment of injury requires attending both physical and psychological needs
Athletes depend on the ability of their bodies to perform at optimal levels
Performance can be the cornerstone of social and economic success
Performance is important to self esteem
An injury is any physical challenge that interferes with performance

3. Psychological Reactions
Reactions depend on:
Athletes perceptive of the injuries severity
How injury interferes with peak performance
Athlete themselves- reactions vary considerably from athlete to athlete
Emotional reactions are caused by:
Pain associated with tissue damage
Amount of attention focused on injury

4. Psychological Components
All physical injuries have a psychological responses
Responses may include:
Anxiety about the loss of motor skills and participation
Anxiety about treatment
Anxiety about rehabilitation
Anxiety about their return to play

5. Psychological Phases
5 phases have been identified which individuals progress through when confronted with grief or loss
Phases can occur in different sequences
Phases can occur with varying degrees of intensity
In some cases one or more phases may be omitted
These reactions are normal and athlete must be allowed to fully experience each

6. Five Psychological Phases
Denial
Anger
Bargaining
Depression
Acceptance

7. Denial Phase
After a sudden injury the athlete will commonly deny the seriousness of the condition
“Nothing is really wrong”
Irrational thinking indicates denial of the true seriousness of the injury
Athlete needs to reshape their perception of the injury
Either the athlete will change perception and leave denial phase or seek second and third opinions- prolonging the phase

8. Anger Phase
Once athlete can no longer deny an injury they often become angry
Anger is toward themselves, those around them, and everything in general
Challenging anger only makes it worse
“Why me” “What did I do wrong” Why am I being punished” “It’s not fair”
Athlete may lose interest in rehabilitation

9. Special Considerations
Athletes who deny pain or loss of function
Ignore pain signals or deny loss of function from injury
Tolerate high levels of pain
Apparently believe it is to their advantage not to acknowledge discomfort
Watch athletes carefully to try to detect signs of injury
Pay close attention to those athletes who have hidden injuries in the past

10. Special Considerations
Athletes who view injury as a source of relief
Consider injuries a source of relief rather than a threat
Competition is not only a opportunity to triumph, but also to fail
Injury can provide a socially acceptable reason to avoid the pressure to succeed
Discuss athletes perception of situation and reaction to pressure may be helpful
Athlete may need help learning to perceive the competitive situation as less a threat and more of an opportunity

11. Intervention Skills Communication Encourage cooperation Goal Setting
Maintaining Team Associations
Relaxation Skills
Visual Imagery
Positive Self-Talk

12. Communication
Be honest and complete with the athlete about needs, expectations and progress
Evaluate often
Do not neglect their emotional responses by trying to cheer them up or ignoring their feelings
Anxious feelings are normal and should receive support as they work through them

13. Encourage Cooperation
Building cooperation and patience with athletes is essential for success rehab
Remember athletes are the ones who must dedicate the time, effort and endure the pain
Give clear explanations
Outline procedures used in the treatment
Make responsible predictions of athletes prognosis and return to competition to improve cooperation

14. Goal Setting
Is critical to establish a program that will be motivational and achieve success
Measure progress daily
Break programs into small sub goals so that improvement is more visible
Set both short and long term goals
Include positive language about what will be achieved, specifically what must be done, and time frame
Build rewards into reaching goals

15. Maintain Team Association
Athlete’s social status and rewards often dramatically decrease with an injury
Friendships based on team membership become threatened
Team Association keeps injured athletes motivation to return from fading
Must keep involved with team
Light workouts
Assist with coaching or managerial tasks

16. Relaxation Skills Promote healing Increase blood flow
Help work through pain
3 techniques
Focused relaxed breathing
Progressive muscle relaxation
Meditation

17. Focused, relaxed breathing
Lessen pain
Reduce muscular resistance in range of motion movements

18. Progressive Muscle Relaxation
Most extensively used technique for relaxation today
Can be practiced in a reclining position or while seated in a chair
Each muscle group in tensed from 5-7 seconds, then relaxed for seconds
One repetition of the procedure is sufficient
If tension remains in the area- repeat in that area

19. Progressive Muscle Relaxation
The sequence of tensing and releasing is systematically applied to the body
Starting hands-arms-head-chest-lower body
Throughout the session a number of expressions for relaxing may be used
“Let the tension dissolve”
“Let go on the tension”

20. Progressive Muscle Relaxation
After the athlete has become highly aware of the tension in the body the contraction is gradually decreased until little remains
The athlete focuses on one area and mentally wills the tension to decrease to zero or complete relaxation
A short progressive program can be developed- not as satisfactory, does help the person to become aware of the body

21. Meditation Technique used in culture dating back nearly 3000 years
Many consider meditation to be an attitude rather than a process
Not only relaxation, but individual’s capacity for focused attention
Can reduce mental anxiety, muscular tension, and create a climate for increased productivity

22. Meditation Effects of Meditation Use up to 18% less oxygen
Produce less carbon dioxide
Slower respiratory rate
Decreased resting heart rate
Decreased blood pressure
Brain waves that are associated with the relaxed mental state increase

23. Meditation Techniques
Focus on a constant mental stimulus such as:
A phrase repeated silently or audibly,
A sound or a single word
Perhaps a gaze steadily at some object
Turn away thoughts as they come into consciousness and return to focus of attention

24. Meditation Techniques
Position in a comfortable position
Normally, the eyes are closed unless the meditator is focused on some external object
A quiet environment is essential
Once fully physically relaxed, the process can begin

25. Meditation Techniques
With each exhalation the athlete emits self-talk of a short word
Word is repeated over and over for minutes
Words such as peace, relaxed or one are excellent
After repeating the word, athlete comes back to physical reality slowly and gently
As awareness increases, physical activity should also increase
Moving too quickly or standing up suddenly may produce light headedness or dizziness

26. Visual Imagery
The imagination can greatly influence their response to an injury
Athletes can be taught to control:
Visual images to direct tem productively
Reduce anxiety
Aid in rehabilitation and healing
Athletes should imagine the healing in the tissues and actually breath air out through the injured area

27. Visual Imagery
Athletes should mentally practice returning to activity and the feeling of being healed and regaining full movement
It is not unusual for athletes to have flashbacks to the original injury movement
Reassure that this is normal and that they should replace that image with one of what it will be like to return to action

28. Positive Self-Talk
Helpful in moving through the grieving process and focusing on recovery
Use affirming self statements and have athletes verbally encourage and reward themselves for their efforts and progress

29. Overtraining, Staleness and Burnout
Stress refers to a change
Stress is not all bad, nor is it all good
Sports participation serves as a stressor
Training too hard and too long without proper rest is overtraining
Athletes who undergo overtraining can become stale and burnt out

30. Overtraining Signs
Coaches, therapeutic staff, and athletes should be aware of the following:
Changes in an athlete’s physical output
Changes in an athletes motivation level
Psychosomatic complaints and decrease in intensity
Changes in the practice climate of the team- increased small overuse injuries

31. Staleness Loss of vigor, initiative, and successful performance
Attributed to a variety of influences
Long seasons or extended seasons
Monotony in practice and program structure
Abusiveness-verbal and physical or controlling
High and constant levels of stress
Poor eating habits

32. Staleness Staleness may be the beginning of burnout
Often a result of overtraining
Athletes are more prone to staleness if rewards of their efforts are minimal, like a losing season

33. Symptoms to Staleness Decrease in performance Chronic fatigue Apathy
Loss of appetite
Indigestion
Weight loss
High BP/Pulse at rest and at exercise
Inability to sleep
Irritability and restlessness
Anxiety and depression
Has to force self to practice
Signs of boredom
Difficulty concentrating

34. Prevent Staleness Time off- breaks in routine
Allow athletes to have more input and control of decisions that affect them
Decrease emotional and stressful demands
Provide a supportive and caring environment
Sufficient attention to complaints and small injuries
Intervention skills- goal setting, relaxation, mental practices, positive self talk

35. Burnout State of physical, mental and emotional environment
Ability to cope with minor daily frustrations decreases and ability to cope with major problems are paralyzed
Loss of motivation and interest
Can become extremely dangerous in terms of injuries and devastating in terms of performance

36. Symptoms of Burnout Exhaustion Depression Emotional detachment
Psychosomatic complaints
Paranoia

37. Treatment for Burnout Takes more drastic steps than staleness
Should be evaluated by a sports psychologist or clinical counselor
Removal from activity and environment
Psychological counseling

38. The End
Any questions???