Psychology of sport injury: Selected debates and contemporary issues

Over the past 50 years, research on the psychology of sport injury has proliferated. Indicative of this growth, numerous edited books, literature reviews and consensus statements have been produced. This research has yielded important insights into psychological factors implicated in injury risk, rehabilitation and return to sport. Our aim in this paper is to examine the psychology of sport injury literature, spanning injury onset, rehabilitation and the return to sport following injury, and to critically examine three key debates and/or issues of contemporary relevance. Towards this end, we first discuss definitional, conceptual and theoretical issues. Second, we synthesize key empirical findings regarding psychological factors implicated in injury occurrence, rehabilitation and return to sport following injury. Third, we discuss three contemporary debates and/or challenges relevant to moving the psychology of sport injury research and clinical practice forward. In particular, we examine: 1. the issue of what rehabilitation adherence is and whether adherence to a structured rehabilitation program is beneficial for achieving rehabilitation (clinical, functional) and sport-specific outcomes; 2. challenges associated with assessment of psychological readiness to return to sport; and 3. whether injured athletes are honest when completing subjective, self-report measures. Finally, we advance various directions for future scholarship. In addressing these four areas, we hope to stimulate further research and debate within the psychology of sport injury.