Identifying Athletes Who are at Risk for Injury
As athletes train at higher levels and endure increasing performance pressures, there is a likelihood of being exposed to higher levels of stress and a greater possibility of injury. The primary causes of injuries are “physical factors, such as muscle imbalances, high speed collisions, overtraining, and physical fatigue.” (Weinberg & Gould, 2011). According to Williams & Andersen (2007) psychological factors have also been found to play a role in injury. Specific personality factors, stress levels, and attitudes which predispose an athlete to injury have been identified. Recognizing the predisposing factors in athletes may be the first step to preventing injury from occurring. As well, understanding the holistic psychological methods for preventing injury may aid in reducing athletic injury.
Identifying Personality Factors
A coach or trainer should be able to recognize the personality traits and psychological factors associated with athletic injuries. Although the explanation for personality research and the injury relationship is complex, personality factors tend to moderate the stress-injury relationship. Anathlete characterized by high-trait anxiety may have a higher life stress-injury relationship. A highly trait anxious person may view competition as more threatening and anxiety provoking than a lower-trait-anxious person (Weinberg & Gould, 2011). Athletes have a cognitive bias and select threat-related information more than their low-trait-anxious peers. For example, a highly trait anxious person may deem their opposition as more threatening or may fear an unfamiliar environment or competition. Similarly, athletes who are pessimistic, low in hardiness and are highly trait anxious experience more athletic injuries or play less as a result of their injuries (Ford et al., 2000). Therefore, as a coach identifying the situations that may create threats for the athlete and helping the athlete to rationalize these fears may reduce the possibility of injury from occurring.
Stress Levels and Injury
Stress levels also play a major role in the stress-injury relationship. Research investigating the relationship between life stress and injury rates (Williams & Andersen, 2007) focuses on major life changes, such a losing a family member, moving towns, getting married, or a change in financial status, which can lead to a higher level of injury. Athletic injuries are more likely with athletes that have low levels of social support and ineffective coping skills (Weinberg & Gould, 2011). Thus, coaches and trainers should inquire about life changes with their athletes and ensure the athlete is receiving proper psychological and social support. Certified athletic trainers and coaches should be on the lookout for individuals who are at risk. In adapting ideas from Anderson and Williams (1988),“A model of stress and athletic injury: Prediction and prevention” a table for recognizing the stress injury relationship is introduced below:
Table for Identifying Stressors and Response to Stressor with Athletes
Factors involved in Stress-Injury Relationship
Potentially Stressful Situation
Personality Factors
Relationship between Stress and Injury
Understanding the reason athletes experience high stress which increases the chances of injury is important in helping to provide effective resources to deal with stress reactions and to prevent injury from occurring.
Disruption of Attentional Focus and Athlete Injury
An explanation for higher chance of injury is stress interferes with an athlete’s ability to focus and reduces their peripheral attention capacities (Williams, Tonyman & Anderson, 1991). Therefore, a hockey player under stress may be more prone to injury because he does not notice a defender who is skating toward him, to check him into the boards. When the players stress levels are lower he has a notably wider peripheral vision, followed by less chance of injury. In many cases, this can also be connected to an individual with increased state anxiety, which also leads to distraction and processing irrelevant thoughts.
Increased Muscle Tension
An athlete with high levels of stress normally has increased muscle tension which also directly increases the chance of injury (Smith, Ptacek & Patterson, 2000). A coach or trainer that recognizes an athlete that is dealing with life stressors should watch the athlete closely and if there is noticeable muscle tension, lessen training and introduce stress management strategies.
Identify Athletes and Exercisers Who are at Risk for Injury
Plenty of research has revealed that athletes are at high risk of sustaining athletic injuries when identified as highly-trait anxious, with high life stress, low psychological and coping skills, low social support and high avoidance coping. As well, it is important to recognize athletes at high risk who participated in stress management training sustained less injury and lost less playing time due to injury. Coaches and trainers can facilitate a healthier training and competition environment by being more aware of the psychological factors influencing risk for injury. The stress-injury relationship is important to understand and apply strategies to aid in reducing the chances of injury occurring. Consider the following steps when working with athletes:
1) Build rapport with athletes and learn to appreciate and understand their stress and vulnerabilities
2) Educate athletes about the prevention, treatment and recovery from injury
3) Teach athletes specific psychological coping skills such as goal setting, positive self talk, imagery or visualization and relaxation training
Sources:
Andersen, M. B., & Williams, J. M. (1988). A model of stress and athletic injury: Prediction and prevention. Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 10, 294 – 306.
Smith, R. E., Ptacek, J. T., & Patterson, E. (2000). Moderator effects of cognitive and somatic trait anxiety in the relation between life stress and physical injuries. Anxiety, Stress and Coping, 13, 269 – 288.
Weinberg, R. S. (2011). Foundations of Sport and Exercise Psychology (5<sup>th</sup> ed). Human Kinetics: Champaign, IL.
Williams, J. M., Tonyman, P., & Andersen, M. B. (1991). The effects of stressors and coping resources on anxiety and peripheral narrowing. Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, 3, 126 -141.
Wiliams, J. M., & Andersen, M. B.(2007). Psychosocial antecedents of sport injury and interventions for risk reduction. In G. Tennebaum & R. C. Eklund (Eds), Handbook of sport psychology (3rd ed., pp. 379-403).