Types of injuries

Psychological aspects of sport injury 

and rehabilitation 

Comenius University, 

Bratislava, 7th of May 2010 

Urban Johnson PhD 

Halmstad University, Sweden 

Centre for Sport & Health Research, 

Halmstad University 

1

Halmstad University, Sweden 



2

”Being severly injured or ill is 

among the most anxiety-provoking 

incident a person can face in life” 

Rydén & Stenström, 2000 


Halmstad University 3

The term ”sport injury” is a 

description used for all 

types of injuries obatined in 

the course of sporting 

activities. 

Lenght of incapacity: 

• Minor (1 to 7 days) 

• Moderate (1 week to 1 

month) 

• Major (more than 1 

month) 



4

Injury risk in sport 

The risk of being injured while engaging in 

sport are statistically high. 

Some examples: 

•US high school students (ages 15-19), estimates of 12-30% 

injuries per year. 

•About 50% of all participants in amateur sport each year 

suffers injuries 

•In high-level sport 20-80% risk of suffering injury each year. 

•Swedish premier league soccer player reported 85 injuries for 

49 player during a year. 



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Types of injuries 

Acute injuries – due to a 

single, sudden and violent 

trauma such as contusion, a 

sprain or a fracture. 

Overuse injuries – due to 

repeated micro-traumata 

having a cumulative effect on 

body tissues, such as strain, 

tendinitis and stress fractures. 



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Several psychosocial factors seem to 

be related to the occurrence of sport 

injury. The most cited factors are: 

High competitive trait anxiety, 

Low self-esteem, 

High or low mood state, 

High life stress and life changes, 

Low coping skills and social support. 



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Study group 

16 soccer players (control group, 8 men and 

8 women) 

13 soccer players (experimental group, 4 

men and 9 women) 



Ref. Johnson, U., Ekengren, J., & Andersen, M.B. 

(2005). Injury prevention in Sweden: Helping Soccer 

Players at Risk. Journal of Sport and Exercise 

Psychology, 1, 32-38. 

8

Preventive intervention 

Some examples of applied techniques: 

• Somatic and cognitive relaxation 

• Stress management 

• Self-confidence training 

• Keeping diary (Critical Incidents Diary) 



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_____________________________________________________________________ 

Experiment- 

Controlgroup 

(n=13) 

group (n=16) 

_____________________________________________________________________ 

Time 1 (February) 

Overuse - 3 

Acute/lminor - moderate 2 1 

Time 2 (March) 

Acute/minor – moderate - 5 

Acute/severe - 1 

Time 3 (April) 

Acute/minor - moderate - 4 


Time 4 (April/May) 

Acute/minor - 1 

The table show 

frequency 

and type of injury 

per group 

Time 5 (May) 

Acute/minor 1 1 


Time 6 (June) 

Acute/moderate - 1 


3 21 

____________________________________________________________________ 



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PSYCHOLOGICAL RESPONSES 

TO INJURY 



Common and adaptive psychological 

reactions to (sport) injury 

Motivation for the rehabilitation to come 

Seeking social support and help 

Curiosity (learn more about the injury) 

Adherence to the rehabilitation 



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Problematic and/or maladaptive 

reactions to sports injury 

Rapid mood swings 

Denial (e.g. ”The injury is no big deal”) 

Social withdrawal 

. 

Guilt feelings letting the team down 

Ref. Johnson, U. (1997). The Long-term Injured Competitive Athlete: 

A study of psychosocial riskfactors. 

Almqvist Wiksell, Sweden 



From a severe injury to world champion in 

high jump: A case study of Kajsa Bergqvist 

Defined psychosocial variables during 

rehabilitation 

Båstad, Sweden the 14 

of July 2004 

Clear vision of future plans early in 

rehabilitation (motivation) 

High self-efficacy and self-awareness 

Well established social network 

(parents, coach etc) 

Helsinki, Finland, 8 

of August, 2005 



Folkesson, S., & Franzén, S. (2006). 

Perceived social support and goal-setting 

during sports injury rehabilitation process: A 

case study with Kajsa Bergqvist. (Ph cand. 

exame). School of Social and Health 

Sciences. University of Halmstad. 

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INTERVENTIONS TECHNIQUES 

USED BY SPORT 

PSYCHOLOGISTS DURING 

REHABILITATION 

1. Stress management and cognitive control 

2. Relaxation and guided imagery 

3. Goal-setting skills 



Stress management during rehabilitation 

Acceptans 

Personal 

responsibility 

Help from others 

Rejection 



Imagery before surgery and during 

rehabilitation 

Preoperative guided imagery 

Coping with pain 

Healing imagery 

Performance imagery 



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Two mportant issues for coaches and 

sport psychologists 

Be observant of major negative events in the athlete’s 

life, as these could have a injury-impact on athlete’s 

in terms of disrupted concentration and elevated 

anxiety levels. 

Be a good listener - ”Just be available”. 



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Thank you for your 

attention 

Urban Johnson 

urban.johnson@hh.se 



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Types of injuries

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