Rehabilitation after first-time anterior cruciate ligament injury and reconstruction in female football players: a study of resilience factorsShow others and affiliations
2016 (English)In: BMC Sports Science, Medicine and Rehabilitation, E-ISSN 2052-1847 , Vol. 8, article id 20Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]
Background
Most of the research in the area of psychosocial factors in rehabilitation after sports injuries has focused on risk behaviors, while relatively few studies have focused on behaviors that facilitate rehabilitation. The objective of our study was to understand the psychosocial features that characterize elite female football players who express a resilient behaviour during rehabilitation after a first-time anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury and reconstruction.
Methods
A qualitative method was used based on individual in-person interviews and video communication of players who incurred a first-time ACL tear during the 2012 season of the Swedish Women’s Elite Football League. In total, 13 players had a first-time ACL and were interviewed post-season. The interviews were followed by a thematic content analysis. Based on this, eight players were identified as showing resilient behaviors during their rehabilitation and were included in the final analysis.
Results
Three core themes representing psychosocial factors that help players cope successfully with rehabilitation were identified: (I) constructive communication and rich interaction with significant others; (II) strong belief in the importance and efficacy of one’s own actions; and (III) the ability to set reasonable goals.
Conclusions
The findings suggest three core themes of psychosocial factors that characterize first-time ACL-injured elite female football players showing resilience during rehabilitation after ACL reconstruction. Suggestions for medical teams about ways to support communication, self-efficacy, and goal-setting during the rehabilitation process, are provided. © 2016 The Author(s).
Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
London: BioMed Central, 2016. Vol. 8, article id 20
Keywords [en]
Athletic injury, Behavior, Female football, Psychosocial, Resilience
National Category
Sport and Fitness Sciences
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:hh:diva-31655DOI: 10.1186/s13102-016-0046-9ISI: 000386704800001PubMedID: 27429759Scopus ID: 2-s2.0-85028918826OAI: oai:DiVA.org:hh-31655DiVA, id: diva2:949306
Note
The study was financially supported by the Swedish Football Association (FA).
2016-07-182016-07-182021-07-05Bibliographically approved