Integrating Mindfulness to Reduce Injury Rates in Athletes: A Critically Appraised Topic

Abstract

Clinical Question: Is there evidence to support the use of mindfulness to reduce injury risk in athletic populations? Clinical Bottom Line: There is currently inconsistent, good-quality evidence to support that mindfulness interventions are effective in decreasing injury rates in athletes compared to the standard of care. Future research should investigate the effectiveness of mindfulness in other populations and types of sports activity (e.g., basketball, gymnastics, etc.). Additionally, future research should investigate different mindfulness delivery techniques in addition to the Mindfulness–Acceptance–Commitment (MAC) approach. Due to the inconsistent, good-quality evidence to support the use of mindfulness to reduce injury rates, the grade of B is recommended by the Strength of Recommendation Taxonomy. Mindfulness interventions should be incorporated into clinical practice but stakeholders (e.g., coaches, athletes, administration) should be included in the decision to implement these programs.