The Effect of Psychological Response on Recovery of Sport Injury

Abstract

The aim of this study was to analyze how psychological responses influence the physical and sporting recovery of an injured person. The sample comprised 20 amateur football players aged between 18 and 35, with moderately serious or serious injuries. The psychological variables evaluated were mood states, subjective estimation of the injury and adherence, and the psychological response was assessed continuously, from the beginning of the treatment until its completion. The results indicate that as the subjects recovered from their injuries, they gradually adopted the ICEBERG profile, which is characteristic of good performance. Subjective estimation of the injury was inversely related to the time required for physical and sporting recovery (Physical R: Sig:=0.60, p<0.05; Sporting R: Sig:=0.61, p<0.05). Similarly statistically significant relationships were found between mood state and physical recovery (Sig:=0.60, p<0.05) and adherence to the rehabilitation program and sporting recovery (Sig:−0.66, p<0.001). The results of this research project suggest that the psychological response of sportsmen regarding coping with their injury is, in statistical terms, significantly related to the achievement of an optimum recovery.

Keywords:

• sport injury
• rehabilitation period
• mood state
• subjective estimation
• adherence

The research reported in this article was supported by the University of Basque Country Research Project Grant. UPV 227.231 – HA 181/95 and the government of the Basque Country Grant. BFI95.114 AE.

We would like to express our gratitude to the “Clinica del Pilar de San Sebastian.” We thank A. M. Smith and S. Finnie for their helpful comments.