When an athlete experiences an injury the physical disability is devastating, but for many athletes the psychological consequences of an injury can be as debilitating as the physical injury. These psychological factors along with the physical factors have a great impact on the athlete's successful return to competition. The sports medicine team along with the coach must understand how these psychological feelings and emotions enter into an athlete's reactions to injury and the rehabilitation process.
Although athletic trainers are usually not as educated as counselers or sport psychologists, they must be concerned with the feelings of the athlete they are working with. The athletic trainer is placed in numerous situations in which there is a interpersonal relationship with the athlete. Knowing and understanding how to deal with the athlete in not only the physical sense, but as importantly the psychological sense can be crutial in the athlete's return to play.
This website is dedicated to providing information about athletic training and information about dealing with the psychological aspect of an injured athlete. This website will provide a resource location for any athletic trainers, sport medicine, or coaches who would like to learn more about athletic training and the psychological side of injured athlete's.
