Francisco Cervantes
PSY 201-11
Mrs. Crockett
FOUNDATIONS OF SPORTS AND EXERCISE PYSCHOLOGY
Athletic Injuries and Psychology
This article talks about different aspects of athletic injuries, and how different
psychological factors influence the incidence of injury, responses to injury, and injury
recovery. The article also encourage professionals to be prepared to initiate teaching and
coaching practices that help prevent injuries, assist in the process of coping with injury,
and provide supportive psychological environments that facilitate injury recovery.
The article identifies psychological antecedents that may predispose people to athletic
injuries, including stress and certain attitudes. When high levels of stress are identified,
stress management procedures should be implemented and training routines adjusted.
Athletes must learn to differentiate between the normal training soreness and the pain of
injury. A “no pain, no gain” attitude can predispose them to injury.
This research describes typical psychological reactions to injuries. Injured athletes exhibit
various psychological reactions that typically fall into three categories: injury-relevant
information processing, emotional upheaval and reactive behavior, and positive outlook
and coping. Increased and anxiety, lowered confidence, and performance decrements also
commonly occur in injured athletes.
Finally, explains how to implement psychological skills and strategies that can speed the
rehabilitation process. Psychological foundations of injury rehabilitation include
Identify athletes who are at high risk of injury; building rapport with the injured
individual; educating the athlete about the nature of the injury and the injury recovery
process; teaching specific psychological coping skills, such as goal setting, relaxation
techniques, and imagery; preparing the person to cope with setbacks in rehabilitation; and
fostering social support, athletes themselves have also made specific recommendations for