The Psychology of Sport Injury and Rehabilitation

Athletes routinely use psychological skills and interventions for performance enhancement but, perhaps surprisingly, not always to assist in recovery from injury. This book demonstrates the ways in which athletes and practitioners can transfer psychological skills to an injury and rehabilitation setting, to enhance recovery and the well-being of the athlete. Drawing on the very latest research in sport and exercise psychology, the book explores key psychological concepts relating to injury, explaining typical psychological responses to injury and psychological aspects of rehabilitation. Using case studies in every chapter to highlight the day-to-day reality of working with injured athletes, the book introduces a series of practical interventions, skills and techniques, underpinned by an evidence-base, with a full explanation of how each might affect an athlete'¬"s recovery from injury. The book emphasises the important of holistic, interdisciplinary approaches to sports injury and rehabilitation, and also covers the particular requirements of working with special populations, counselling injured athletes, and dealing with injury sustained in exercise settings. No other current book examines both the psychological bases of sports injury and psychological aspects of the rehabilitation process, and therefore this book is an important resource for students, scholars and practitioners working in sport psychology, sports therapy, sports medicine or coaching.