Tuesday, March 27, 2012

It's more than just an injury

Often when athletes get injured and have to spend time away from sport, we only think about the recovery of the physical injury. A successful return to competition can be dependent on psychological rehabilitation as well. An article from Athletic Therapy Today, 'Psychological Rehabilitation for Recovery From Injury: The SCRAPE Approach' by Christopher James Hinderliter and Bradley J. Cardinal, helps to outline how coaches, trainers, and/or teachers can help an athlete's rehabilitation on the psychological end.

The acronym to help remember the key features is SCRAPE.
S - Social Support
C - Confidence and Competence
R - Refer
A - Accomodate
P - Psychological Skills
E - Educate

Social Support
Having a network of friends, teammates, coaches, trainers available for the injured athlete to connect with and share similar experiences can help the athlete understand the rehabilitation process they are going through and the work required.

Confidence and Competence
The clinician who attends to the patient can make a huge difference by instilling confidence and competence creating a positive outlook on the recovery process. Knowledge transfer to the patient helps them to view the rehabilitation as opportunity to show progressive improved physical ability, and traits like commitment and desire.

Refer
Often sport med doctors and trainers don't have training in psychology, and an athlete may not respond to a clinicians efforts to help the psychological process, so referral to a psychologist can be the best step.

Accommodate
The athletic trainer should work with the athlete recognizing their natural disposition and personal needs. Treatment and rehab should be individualized to each athlete to help keep the patient focused on the common rehabilitation goal.

Psychological Skills
Imagery, relaxation and goal setting will help to foster a positive outlook on recovery. They can help instill confidence, motivate, and improve the athlete's self-image.

Educate
The education of the athlete on typical recovery time, restrictions, and therapy can help the patient be more active in the process. When educating the athlete refrain from using terminology that the athlete may not understand or may confuse the athlete.

So the next time you face an athlete with an injury, think beyond the physical aid that can be provided and heal the mind as well.

Contact SIRC for more information on the physical and psychological side of sport injury! 

Reference from the SIRC Collection:
Hinderliter, C., & Cardinal, B. J. (2007). Psychological Rehabilitation for Recovery From Injury: The SCRAPE Approach. Athletic Therapy Today, 12(6), 36-38. (Order full text from SIRC)

Online Resources:
Weiss, M. (2003) Psychological Aspects of Sport-Injury Rehabilitation: A Developmental Perspective. Journal of Athletic Training, 38(2): 172–175.
Crust, Lee. Psychological Rehabilitation Techniques. Retrieved from the Internet March 27, 2012.

12 comments:

Jodie Jenkins said...

Yes! Even in sports, personal injury accidents happens. Accident unfortunately happens all the time, anywhere, and to anyone. Let's be more cautious at all times to avoid injury.

MoLangley said...

Love your blog! I've been conducting a lot of research into sport injury treatment and your article has really helped. Thank you!

Laguna Beach Post Rehabilitation

Apu Mridha said...

Hey,
Really enjoyed reading your post. It’s amazing ! Thank you for sharing with us :)


Regards

Apu

sports massage near me

sanssa stock said...

Personal injury rehabilitation is a process of restoring a patient to their normal physical, emotional and social functioning. This is done by treating the injured part of the body and by giving exercises to restore normal muscle tone.
Personal Injury Rehabilitation
Personal injury rehabilitation can be achieved through an inpatient or outpatient program. The former usually lasts for 3-6 months while the latter can last for up to 12 months.

Kathija Maryam Blogger said...

Since many days I have been suffering from knee pain after sports injury. This article gives an hope of overcoming Pain in my body. Thanks for this useful information. For more details about Mimics Injury Rehabilitation in Coimbatore

Digi Mark said...

Sometimes the injury can be of severe nature like ligament tear or fracture of bones. ACL tear surgery in Mumbai helps to restore structural damage done to the ligament due to knee injury.

OAKS Clinic said...

Dr. Amyn Rajani is a consultant arthroscopy & joint replacement surgeon in Mumbai. He performs knee arthroscopy, shoulder arthroscopy, total knee replacement, total shoulder replacement, partial knee replacement, acl tear reconstruction, rotator cuff surgery, frozen shoulder and hip replacement. Schedule a consultation today at 91-88989 75355, 91-22-23619137!

Anonymous said...

Sports Injury Treatment Melbourne

Inner North Osteopathy offers Sports Injury Treatment in Melbourne. We have highly trained osteopaths who are passionate about treating sports injuries & also provide comprehensive Gait Analysis. Book your Sports Injury Osteo Appointment Today or call us at 03 9388 1735.

gaty said...

I’m excited to discover this web site. I wanted to thank you for your time due to this fantastic read!

Regards,
Frozen shoulder near me

Back2Health Physical Therapy said...

Exploring options for sports injury recovery? Discover why physical therapy could be your best bet! Check out this insightful article on the benefits of Sports Injuries Physical Therapy Michigan Learn how skilled therapists at Back2Health PT can help you regain strength, flexibility, and agility, getting you back in the game faster and stronger. Don't let injuries sideline your progress – trust in the expertise of our team to guide you towards optimal recovery

Back2Health Physical Therapy said...

If you're seeking top-notch care for your sports injury or rehabilitation in Michigan, look no further than this premier Physical Therapy & Sports Injury Clinic. Their expertise and dedication to restoring your health and performance are unmatched, ensuring you're back in the game more vital than ever.

Back2Health Physical Therapy said...


For exceptional care for your sports injury or rehabilitation needs in Michigan, there's no better choice than this leading Physical Therapy & Sports Injury Clinic. Renowned for their expertise and commitment to enhancing your health and performance, they guarantee a swift return to peak condition, ensuring you're back in action stronger than before.