Rehabilitation Process

-The psychometrical treatments of an injured athlete can be divided into the following categories:

1.Education;

2.Relaxation skills

3.Social support

4.Mental training

5.Goal setting

6.Coping skill

1. Education

People in the past ignore the importance of injury education. Primary goal of injury education: to help the athlete understand in detail the processes underlying injury and rehabilitation. (Heil, 1993)

By learning the principles of injury, the athlete will know exactly what should be done for faster recovery

- the fear of the athlete become less

- the confidence of recovery enhanced

- played an important role in preventing future injury

　

2. Relaxation Skills

- Progressive relaxation: muscle to mind

- Autogenic training: mind to muscle

- Meditation

- Biofeedback: the use of instrumentation to mirror psychophysiological processes of which the individual is not normally aware and which may be brought under voluntary control

　

3. Social Support

It is a form of interpersonal connectedness. It encourages the constructive expression of feelings, provides reassurance in times of doubt and leads to improved communication and understanding (Neil, 1993)

Elements of Social Support in Athletic Environments (Neil 1993)
1. Listening
2. Technical Appreciation
3. Technical Challenge
4. Emotional Support
5. Emotional Challenge
6. Shared social reality

　

4. Mental Training

- Mental imagery

1. Rehabilitation rehersal :May be Used early in the treatment process or when early sign of difficulty in psychological adjustment occur
2. Healing Imagery : Healing images and Healed images

　

- Self-talk

1. Increase Arousal level and Self-confidence

2. Encourage the patient himself to put more effort on the treatment

3. Focusing the concentration of the patient on the treatment only

　

- Pain management

1. Critical importance for athlete to return to play

2. Highly Personalized

3. Differentiating routine pain and injury pain

4. Routine pain: short term

5. Injury pain: Danger to athlete’s physical integrity

6. Cognitive pain control Strategies

1.  External focus of attention
2. Pleasant imaginings
3. neutral imaginings
4. Rhythmic cognitive activity
5. Pain acknowledging
6. Dramatized coping

5. Goal Setting

It is relatively simple compare to other methods, a goal-based program will vary depending upon (Neil, 1993):

- The length and intensity of treatment
- Urgency of speedy return to play
- Level of commitment to sport
- Initial psychological adjustment to injury
- Difficulties in Rehabilitation

6. Coping Skills

Injured athlete tends to be separated from the team (Neil, 1993), it can play a different role in the team rather than a player, also team spirit can arouse teammates and finally reassurance