Emma Brandimarte
Research Mentor(s): Michael Mignano
Mentor Department: Movement Science
Authors: Emma Brandimartre, Michael Mignano
Session: Session 6 (3:00pm – 3:50pm)
Presentation Type: Oral
Abstract
Many athletes across the globe suffer from all types of injuries and must take some time off from sports to heal. Athletes respond to injuries in various ways. Some athletes may feel unaffected by an injury, while others may suffer both physiologically and psychologically when it is time to return to their sport. Furthermore, after taking time off from sports, athletes may see a decrease in their self-confidence. The reduction in self-confidence may be due to the athlete feeling psychological stressors such as a fear of reinjury, somatic and cognitive anxiety, pain catastrophizing, and a negative mood. In the following literature review, the mentioned psychological and physiological stressors will be discussed. In addition, there have been multiple studies completed to assess and improve an athlete’s self-confidence through psychological intervention and rehabilitation. For example, some athletes may experience post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after suffering from an injury. Scientific evidence suggests that treatments such as eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EDMR) therapy are ways to reduce PTSD and increase the athlete’s self-confidence. Lastly, athletes received physiotherapy, such as massages with rapid movements to increase the temperature and circulation of their muscles. Some athletes received psychotherapy in addition to physiotherapy, which included cognitive restructuring and positive self-talk. The combination of therapies has been shown to improve an athlete’s self-confidence post-injury. The following literature review will discuss the physiological and psychological tools mentioned above to improve an athlete’s self-confidence after they have suffered from an injury.
