Athletes encounter many struggles during their continuing attempt to strive toward perfection; but the one demon who can extinguish any hope of excellence, in a blink of an eye, is injury. Nothing can throw off an athlete's confidence and motivation like injuries. They can appear at any time and do most of their damage on the mind rather than the body. No matter what level of athletics you compete at, you are never exempt from encountering injuries. Those who handle their injuries positively will most likely come back faster from them, and return with more knowledge as a result of the trials they went through. We first need to recognize the relationship between personality and injury. Next, we need to understand how injuries occur. Lastly, we must learn the best ways to cope with injuries.

• 3 - 5 million athletic related injuries per year in the U.S.
• Mental and Physical relationships with injuries
• Stress and its effect on injuries (personality factors, history of stressors, coping resources)

• Primary Causes (muscle imbalances, high-speed collisions, overtraining, physical fatigue)
• Psychological Factors (personality, stress levels, predisposed attitudes)
• People with high levels of stress have more sport and exercise related injuries

• Two main theories (Attentional Disruption, Increased Muscle Tension)
• Attentional Disruption - stress reduces peripheral attention
• Increased Muscle Tension - stress causes tension that reduces coordination
• Additional Problems: Attitudes - ("Act tough and always give 110%", "Worthless if you're hurt")

• Five-Stage process following an injury (Hardy & Creece, 1990):
• Denial
• Anger
• Bargaining
• Depression
• Acceptance and Reorgainization
• Time to reach each stage will vary from person to person
• Additional Reactions (identity loss, fear and anxiety, lack of confidence, performance decrements)

• Holistic Approach (physical therapy with psychological strategies)
• Psychological Strategies:
• Rapport
• Education about the Injury
• Coping Skills
• Preparation of Setbacks
• Social Support

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