Rehabilitation Of Athletic Injuries Research Articles

An Exploration of the Sources of Self-Efficacy Information in Athletic Injury Rehabilitation

Self-efficacy plays a vital role in an athlete’s injury and rehabilitation experience and is linked to successful rehabilitation outcomes. We sought to develop a deeper understanding of self-efficacy sources throughout injury rehabilitation using an interpretative phenomenological analysis design grounded in a pragmatist paradigm. Semistructured interviews were conducted with nine male Division II collegiate athletes throughout injury rehabilitation. Seven themes were identified as sources of athletes’ self-efficacy during rehabilitation phases, and two themes were identified as influencing participants in their selection and weighing of the sources of self-efficacy. Athletes described several sources as negatively impacting their self-efficacy, and differences were observed in the sources reported across the phases of injury rehabilitation. Results suggest the influence of sources of efficacy information fluctuates over the course of injury rehabilitation. These findings can contribute to further research in the area, as well as strategies and interventions to better assist athletes through injury rehabilitation.

The use of imagery in athletic injury rehabilitation. A systematic review

The use of imagery in athletic injury rehabilitation. A systematic review

Aquatic Physical Therapy in the Rehabilitation of Athletic Injuries: A Systematic Review of the Literatures

This review aimed to analyze the evidence of the effects of aquatic physical therapy in athletes and persons who participate in sports activities. Pertinent databases were searched from the beginning of databases until June 2015 to determine the effectiveness of aquatic physical therapy in the rehabilitation of sports injuries in athletes and/or individual who enjoy sports activities. A total of 311 articles were identified. Eight articles met the inclusion criteria, and the average methodological quality on the Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) scale was 7. Aquatic physical therapy in the rehabilitation of sports injuries improved pain, range of motion, muscle strength, balance ability, and performance, but the evidence regarding benefits of aquatic physical therapy compared to land-based physical therapy was inconclusive. Further investigation is therefore needed to clarify this.

Evaluation of the Use of Healing Imagery in Athletic Injury Rehabilitation

Healing imagery can be defined as both visualizing affirmative images of internal physiological healing occurring in an injured area and visualizing oneself as healthy and fully functioning (Driediger, Hall, & Callow, 2006). Healing imagery has been found to effectively reduce the time of recovery from various athletic injuries when used in combination with other mental skills, such as self-talk and relaxation (Ievleva & Orlick, 1991). However, the literature remains void of a study that specifically examines healing imagery and the potential benefits that may accompany the regular application of healing imagery techniques alone. This study examined the effects of an imagery intervention on the recovery of athletes experiencing an athletic injury in comparison to a control group who did not receive the imagery manipulation. The purpose of the present study was to determine the effectiveness of a healing imagery intervention through comparing the two groups on: satisfaction with rehabilitation, self-efficacy to recover, and recovery time. The sample consisted of 13 injured varsity athletes (intervention group, n=6; control group, n=7) utilizing the athletic therapy services at Wilfrid Laurier University. A significant interaction effect was found for satisfaction with rehabilitation, as athletes' in the intervention group increased in satisfaction from week 2 to 3 while the control group decreased in satisfaction during the same time period. The intervention group also used significantly more cognitive imagery than the control group. Both groups were found to be significantly higher in task self-efficacy than coping self-efficacy during injury rehabilitation. A follow-up qualitative analysis of the intervention group revealed that the healing imagery intervention positively affected athletes' in a unique, individualized manner. Results are discussed with respect to a gained understanding of imagery effects, study limitations, and future directions.

Exertional Heat Stroke and Emergency Issues in High School Sport

Every year, recreational, high school, collegiate, and professional athletes die as a direct result from sport participation (7). The primary causes include cardiac arrest, head injuries, exertional sickling, asthma, and exertional heat stroke (EHS) (7). A recent article published in the NATA News (3) highlights the sudden deaths of young athletes, where in 2008 alone, they recount 12 high school football players died, along with 2 youth-leaguer football players and 2 soccer athletes (3,7). Although there are many causes of sudden death in sports, schools with sanctioned athletic events need to be prepared to prevent, assess, and treat these medical emergencies. The most appropriate individual to manage a medical emergency situation on a daily basis at the high school level is a certified athletic trainer. Certified athletic trainers (ATs) are allied health care professionals specially trained in the prevention, recognition, treatment, and rehabilitation of athletic injuries within the physically active. The National Athletic Trainer’s Association (NATA) encourages all secondary schools to have a comprehensive athletic health care system in place, which includes having a school physician and an on-site AT to provide appropriate medical care. Secondary schools that fail to implement the recommendations made by the NATA regarding appropriate medical care for the secondary-aged athlete places the medical care into the hands of an untrained individual and implementation of the school’s emergency action plan (EAP) ultimately becomes the responsibility of the athletic director, strength and conditioning staff, and coaching staff. The EAP is a document that outlines the care an athlete should receive when a medical emergency arises and should include all personnel involved in the care of the injured athlete and include a discussion of all the potential causes of sudden death. Despite having an EAP in place, secondary schools without appropriate medical care providers on-site are at risk for common errors, such as delay in care, misdiagnosis, and improper treatment, which can lead to death, as was seen with the high-profile tragic death of Kentucky High School football player Max Gilpin in August 2008.

Incorporating Gaming Technology into Athletic Injury Rehabilitation: A Review of the Literature

Incorporating Gaming Technology into Athletic Injury Rehabilitation: <i>A Review of the Literature</i>

The RAMP System: A Template for the Progression of Athletic-Injury Rehabilitation

The RAMP system of athletic-injury rehabilitation, its name an acronym representing its component phases, has its foundation in the frequentreassessment of the injury condition. The patient is progressed systematically through a sequence of rehabilitation goals: management of theacute responses to injury, restoration ofmobility, and successful completion ofperformance goals. The RAMP system designates the current highest-priority rehabilitation goal as the primary objective and any other goals as secondary. This ensures that the pursuit of 1 rehabilitation goal is not at the expense of another, more currently relevant goal. The RAMP system provides a systematic format to help less-experienced clinicians progress injured athletes through the phases of recovery from injury. Daily reassessment of an injury allows the rehabilitation plan to be current and appropriate. The goal-based progression of the system ensures maximum resolution of each rehabilitation objective, contributing to athletes’ optimal return to sport or activity

Down but Not Out: Athlete Responses to Season-Ending Injuries

This investigation sought to extend the existing scientific literature regarding the role of psychological processes in athletic injury rehabilitation. Specifically, the study examined (a) psychological responses of injured athletes to season-ending injuries, and (b) long-term benefits athletes perceived they obtained from their injuries. In-depth interviews were conducted with US Ski Team athletes (N = 21) who experienced injuries during racing seasons from 1990 to 1994. The data were analyzed using the content analysis procedures described by Scanlan, Stein, and Ravizza (1989). Relative to athletes’ reactions to being injured, 136 raw data themes were extracted which coalesced into 4 general dimensions: (a) injury-relevant information processing/awareness, (b) emotional upheaval/reactive behavior, (c) positive outlook/coping attempts, and (d) other. With respect to injury benefits, 81 raw data themes emerged and formed 4 dimensions: (a) personal growth, (b) psychologically- based performance enhancements, (c) physical-technical development, and (d) none. The results are discussed in relation to existing models of injury recovery and stress.

A Practical Guide to Electrical Therapy

Electrical therapy is a popular therapeutic modality for the management and rehabilitation of athletic injuries. Electrical stimulation is commonly used to elicit muscle contraction, reduce edema, and control pain. However, electrical therapy can also be a tremendous challenge for clinicians. The purpose of this paper is to present current and accurate information that will serve as a guide In the use of electrical therapy for the effective management of athletic injuries. With an understanding of the basic current types provided by various electrical stimulators and the modifications of the currents that are available, electrical therapy becomes an invaluable tool for injury management and rehabilitation.

The role of proprioception in the management and rehabilitation of athletic injuries.

Rehabilitation continues to evolve with the increased emphasis on patient management and proprioceptive training. Proprioception can be defined as a specialized variation of the sensory modality of touch that encompasses the sensation of joint movement (kinesthesia) and joint position (joint position sense). Numerous investigators have observed that afferent feedback to the brain and spinal pathways is mediated by skin, articular, and muscle mechanoreceptors. Examining the effects of ligamentous injury, surgical intervention, and proprioceptively mediated activities in the rehabilitation program provides an understanding of the complexity of this system responsible for motor control. It appears that this neuromuscular feedback mechanism becomes interrupted with injury and abnormalities, and approaches restoration after surgical intervention and rehabilitation. Rehabilitation programs should be designed to include a proprioceptive component that addresses the following three levels of motor control: spinal reflexes, cognitive programming, and brainstem activity. Such a program is highly recommended to promote dynamic joint and functional stability. Thus far, current knowledge regarding the basic science and clinical application of proprioception has led the profession of sports medicine one step closer to its ultimate goal of restoring function.

Differential Psychological Treatment of Injured Athletes Based on Length of Rehabilitation

This paper describes the psychological processes of injured athletes and corresponding treatments along a continuum based on time away from sport. The first level involves injuries requiring rehabilitation of 0 to 2 weeks. Athletes' reactions focus on resiliency and coping with the stress associated with injury, and treatment emphasizes stress management and development of coping strategies. The second level involves injuries requiring rehabilitation of more than 2 weeks; in this level, motivation and compliance with rehabilitation protocols are dealt with, and treatment focuses on goal setting and injury support groups. The third level pertains to injuries resulting in the termination of an athlete's sport participation. This level involves the potential loss of identity in sport and transitions to a new lifestyle, with treatment strategies focusing on grief responses and career counseling. By viewing the psychology of athletic injury rehabilitation from a perspective that is sensitive to the severity of the injury as well as longevity of rehabilitation, sport psychologists can provide treatment better suited to the individual athlete.

Psychological Aspects of Athletic Injuries as Perceived by Athletic Trainers

This study investigated the perceptions of certified athletic trainers concerning their attitudes, beliefs, and application of a variety of psychological strategies and techniques used in the treatment and rehabilitation of athletic injuries. The Athletic Training and Sport Psychology Questionnaire (ATSPQ) was adapted from instruments developed by Wiese, Weiss, and Yukelson (1991) and Brewer, Van Raalte, and Linder (1991). The ATSPQ, a letter of introduction, and a self-addressed stamped envelope were distributed to 1,000 certified athletic trainers randomly selected from the membership database maintained by the National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA). Only 482 (48.2%) of these questionnaires returned were usable. 47% of athletic trainers who responded believe that every injured athlete suffers psychological trauma. 24% reported that they have referred an athlete for counseling for situations related to their injury, and 25% reported that they have a sport psychologist as a member of their sports medicine team. This study concludes that future education of athletic trainers should address the psychological aspects of injury treatment as well as the development of a sport psychology referral network.

Predictors of Adherence in the Rehabilitation of Athletic Injuries: An Application of Personal Investment Theory

This study examined the relationship between the three facets of subjective meaning—personal incentives, sense of self, and perceived behavioral options—and adherence behaviors in the athletic injury rehabilitation setting. Subjects were 40 intercollegiate athletes who had sustained a sport related injury; all completed a questionnaire assessing the three components of meaning specific to sport and injury rehabilitation. Adherence was defined as a composite of attendance at the prescribed sessions, degree of completion of the prescribed exercise protocol, and the athlete's intensity or effort exerted in performing the prescribed exercise. Multiple-regression analyses indicated that each dimension significantly predicted adherence behaviors. Athletes who demonstrated greater adherence believed in the efficacy of the treatment, perceived more social support for their rehabilitation, were more goal directed or self-motivated, and placed more emphasis on mastery or task-involved goals in sport.

Rehabilitation of Common Athletic Injuries of the Hand and Wrist

Rehabilitation of athletic injuries of the hand and wrist should begin at the time of injury. Early recognition and prompt medical attention can serve to minimize the initial effects of injury. A systematic evaluation should include assessment of deformity, joint instability, active and passive motion, edema, and nerve and tendon function. In spite of initial negative findings, painful joints should be protected. Joints of the hand and wrist are particularly vulnerable to the effects of aggressive rehabilitation. Signs of reaction to exercises should be closely observed. Upgrading of activity should only occur as soft-tissue healing will allow.

Rehabilitation of Athletic Injuries

Rehabilitation of Athletic Injuries

Rehabilitation of athletic injuries

Rehabilitation of athletic injuries

The Use of Physical Agents in Rehabilitation of Athletic Injuries

The competitive athlete's motivation to return to activity following injury presents a challenge to the sports medicine specialist to utilize the most effective rehabilitation procedures available. Safe return to competition necessitates maximal restoration of those components of physical fitness affected by injury (such as muscular strength, power, endurance). Various forms of superficial heat and cold application, deep heat modalities, and electrical currents have been used to supplement therapeutic exercise in this process. In recent years, the therapeutic benefits of cold for the control of exercise-induced edema and as a prelude to performance of prescribed exercise have been widely recognized. Although short wave and microwave diathermy appear to have lost much of their appeal as deep tissue heating modalities, the thermal and mechanical effects of ultrasound continue to make it a widely used modality in sports medicine. Adaptation of alternating electrical currents for use in transcutaneous nerve stimulation has given the sports medicine clinician a useful modality for pain management. The more recently developed "Russian" electrical stimulator provides a promising modality for muscle re-education and restoration of muscular strength.

Rehabilitation of athletic injuries

Rehabilitation of athletic injuries