The Athlete's Experience of Returning to Competition and Practice
The Athlete's Experience of Returning to Competition and Practice
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Issue Date
2019
Authors
Alvarez, Tyler
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Abstract
The aim ofthis study was to explore athletes' experience of returning to practice and competition after an injury, with a specific focus on the emotional state through the rehabilitation process, upon returning, and postreturn. This study utilized a qualitative approach in order to understand the experience of athletes returning from traumatic injury in their own words. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 15 Division I NCAA athletes from diverse backgrounds in terms of gender, time after injury, ethnicity, and socioeconomic levels. Content analysis and bracketing was performed in order to ensure unbiased themes. The categories emerging from the analysis included "Sport as a Defining Part of an Individual's Young Life," "Injury Onset and Repetition of Injury," "The Rehabilitation Process," "Support Network," "Returning to Practice Versus Returning to Competition," "Cognitive Dissonance and a Shift in Focus as Defense Mechanism," and "Personal Change Posttraumatic Injury." Many of these categories has subcategories. Results showed that athletes tend to experience significant trauma, anxiety, depression, and isolation at multiple points in the rehabilitation process. Social support and financial stability appeared to play an important role in an athlete's ability to process negative emotions and stay motivated during injury, as well as the rehabilitation and return process. The results of the analysis of these interviews showed that culture, gender identity, and type of sport did not appear to factor into the participants' feeling of return anxiety or whether they felt like they were the same athlete as before their after injury.
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Keywords
" Reinjury","Qualitative Research","Content Analysis”,“Sport”,“NCAA”,"Coach","Traumatic Injury"