Designing, implementing and evaluating the RETURN protocol for physical and psychological support of injuries in performance sport.
Lead Research Organisation:
Brunel University London
Department Name: Life Sciences
Abstract
The most significant risk factors for athletes' mental health are injury, transition, and injury and transition combined (Reardon et al., 2019; Moesch, Kentta, Kleinert, Quignon-Fleuret, Cecil, & Bertollo, 2018). Previous serious injuries have been found to be related to Common Mental Disorder (CMD) symptoms in Dutch athletes (Gouttebarge, Jonkers, Moen, Verhagen, Wylleman & Kerkhoffs, 2017), and athletes who received support for CMD in later life were found to have injury as an antecedent (Gervis, Pickford & Hau, 2018). The psychological impact of injury is not a short-term issue, and effects can extend beyond physical rehabilitation. The links between injury and common mental health problems are well researched and outlined briefly below.
Anxiety and depression are common mental health problems in the general population, but injured athletes are particularly vulnerable. Depressive symptoms are more common in injured athletes than healthy ones (Appaneal, Levine, Perna and Roh, 2009; Trojian, 2016), and can be as severe as suicidal ideation (Smith & Milliner, 1994, Nygård, 2017). Injured athletes exhibit more symptoms of anxiety than healthy athletes (Gulliver, Griffiths, Mackinnon, Batterham & Stanimirovic, 2015). Sport specific anxiety about the consequences of injury such as de-selection or forced retirement is covered by the term re-injury anxiety (Hsu et al., 2017). Wadey, Podlog, Hall, Utley, Hicks-Little & Hammer (2014) found that reinjury anxiety could have a positive or negative effect on psychological outcomes for athletes. Those athletes who interpreted reinjury anxiety as negative tended to focus on their distress, getting caught in a 'negative downward directional spiral' (Wadey et al., 2014, p. 262). In contrast, Wadey et al. (2014) found that athletes who interpreted return to sport positively with a 'renewed perspective on sport' were more likely to experience positive psychological outcomes.
Anxiety and depression are common mental health problems in the general population, but injured athletes are particularly vulnerable. Depressive symptoms are more common in injured athletes than healthy ones (Appaneal, Levine, Perna and Roh, 2009; Trojian, 2016), and can be as severe as suicidal ideation (Smith & Milliner, 1994, Nygård, 2017). Injured athletes exhibit more symptoms of anxiety than healthy athletes (Gulliver, Griffiths, Mackinnon, Batterham & Stanimirovic, 2015). Sport specific anxiety about the consequences of injury such as de-selection or forced retirement is covered by the term re-injury anxiety (Hsu et al., 2017). Wadey, Podlog, Hall, Utley, Hicks-Little & Hammer (2014) found that reinjury anxiety could have a positive or negative effect on psychological outcomes for athletes. Those athletes who interpreted reinjury anxiety as negative tended to focus on their distress, getting caught in a 'negative downward directional spiral' (Wadey et al., 2014, p. 262). In contrast, Wadey et al. (2014) found that athletes who interpreted return to sport positively with a 'renewed perspective on sport' were more likely to experience positive psychological outcomes.
Organisations
People |
ORCID iD |
| Helen Pickford (Student) |
Studentship Projects
| Project Reference | Relationship | Related To | Start | End | Student Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ES/P000649/1 | 01/10/2017 | 30/09/2027 | |||
| 2427788 | Studentship | ES/P000649/1 | 01/10/2020 | 30/04/2026 | Helen Pickford |
| Description | We have designed and pilot-tested a workshop for Psychological practitioners working in sport to enable them to better support injured athletes. The workshop includes education on the psychological impacts of injury and practical skills to support injured athletes throughout their rehabilitation using Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). |
| Exploitation Route | We hope that, once complete, this research will provide evidence to inform psychological support for injured athletes, help to bridge the research-practice gap in this area, and understand more about how psychological support helps athletes. It is hoped that this evidence could be built on to provide a robust case for the inclusion of psychological practitioners in rehabilitation teams, and the need for education around supporting injured athletes as an integral part of the professional training of sport psychologists. This research could also be taken forward in other areas, supporting other populations experiencing long-term injury, for example military personnel, or people with life-altering injuries. |
| Sectors | Healthcare,Leisure Activities, including Sports, Recreation and Tourism |
| Description | Results from the pilot studies indicate that attending the workshop led participants to push for organisational change in their workplaces to improve the support mechanisms for injured athletes. The learning from the pilot process have also been implemented in several sporting organisations through collaboration with the athlete support teams. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2022 |
| Sector | Healthcare,Leisure Activities, including Sports, Recreation and Tourism |