ENGLISH

Abstract

Currently, the studies that have been carried out on sports injuries are mostly focused on physical factors as the main cause; however, empirical evidence shows the importance of psychological factors. Therefore, we must focus on identifying the most relevant variables surrounding sports injuries, that is, those that can influence their appearance and/or rehabilitation. Mental health disorders have become one of the most relevant problems today, and with it, the risk of suffering an injury is increasing. The objective of the present study is to carry out a systematic review of the scientific literature to know which mental health indicators are the most common in relation to sports injuries in elite athletes. A systematic review of the scientific literature will be carried out in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. For this purpose, various databases have been used, such as: Scopus, Scielo, ResearchGate, MedlinePlus, Dialnet and Google Scholar. The selected documents were 6, all of them review articles published between 2016 and 2022. The results indicate that: there is a relationship between mental health and sports injuries; the prevalence of mental health symptoms in sport increases the risk of injury and delays rehabilitation; the number of injuries negatively affects the athlete’s mental health; Injuries can increase the risk of mental health problems and adverse behaviors. In conclusion, this review shows how mental health indicators are significantly related to sports injuries, and how their relationship can lead to incorrect recovery for the athlete and/or being more exposed to suffering from it.