Lecture 25: Injury Risk and Prevention

Question 1

Define an athletic injury.

Answer 1

An injury that results in an inability to compete and/or inability to participate in sport

Question 2

Describe the dynamic, multifactoral sport model of aetiology.

Answer 2

Internal factors (age,gender, fitness, skill anatomy) make up the predisposed athlete
External Factors (equipment, environment, situational factors) make the susceptible athlete
An event can then occur that leads to injury

Question 3

Describe the model of stress and athletic injury.

Answer 3

Stressful athletic situation
Psychosocial factors (history of stressors/personality/coping resources) determine stress response
Stress response can then influence the cognitive appraisals we make and the resulting physiological response
This causes an increased stress response that increases injury risk

Question 4

What are the drawbacks of the dynamic, multifactoral sport model of aetiology?

Answer 4

Doesn’t incorporate luck and psychosocial factors

Question 5

Give some examples of cognitive appraisals we can make.

Answer 5

Abilities to meet demands?

Consequences of not meeting demands?

Question 6

What are the physiological adaptations due to stress that increase the risk of injury?

Answer 6

Increased muscle tension
Attentional Control (task irrelevant cues)
Narrowed peripheral vision

Question 7

What did Williams and Scherzer identify about personality types and injury risks?

Answer 7

Type A: increased risk of injury/ external locus of control/ sensation seeking/ defensive pessimism/ perfectionism/ high state anxiety/ mood disturbances)

Type B: decreased injury risk/ internal locus of control/ low trait anxiety/ hardiness & optimism/ curiosity/ willingness to commit/ threat as a challenge/ positive mindset

Question 8

What effects have been found of having a history of stressors on injury risk?

Answer 8

Daily hassles and high life stress increase injury risk

Previous injuries have mixed findings

Question 9

What theories have been constructed on the effect of previous injury on injury risk?

Answer 9

Causality theory: inadequate healing = increased injury risk
Non-Causal Marker Theory: previous injury is a marker for other traits that increase injury risk

Question 10

What are the three different coping resources?

Answer 10

General coping behaviours
Social support system
Stress management

Question 11

What did Petrie identify as the effect of support systems on injury risk in gymnasts?

Answer 11

Gymnasts with low social support and high negative life events were more susceptible to injury

Question 12

What were the effects of social support and mental toughness that Petrie et al. identified in american football players?

Answer 12

Increased social support and mental toughness increased positive life stress on injury risk

Question 13

How can we modify cognitive appraisals to help athletes at risk?

Answer 13

Prevent negative thinking
Realistic expectations
Sense of belonging
Optimal coach-athlete communications

Question 14

How can we modify physiological/attentional changes to help athletes at risk?

Answer 14

Relaxation
Mindfullness training
Attentional control training
SIT

Question 15

What did Noh et al. give as broad-based coping skills that improve stress response to injury?

Answer 15

Increased imagery and self-talk

Relaxation/hypnosis

Question 16

What were the results of Noh et al.’s broad-based coping skills study?

Answer 16

Improved confidence and concentration

Shorter duration of injuries

Question 17

What were the practical implications of the study on broad-based coping?

Answer 17

Take a more hollistic approach

Enhanced role of SPC