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Affiliation
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Department of Basic Psychology, University of Balearic Islands, Crta. Valldemossa, Km 7.5, 07122 Palma, Spain. Electronic address: alex.garcia@uib.es. |
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Abstract
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OBJECTIVES: Several attempts to reduce the incidence of sport injuries using psychosocial interventions produced fruitful, although inconclusive results. This paper presents the effectiveness and implementation issues of a pilot 3-month stress-management and muscle relaxation program aimed at reducing sport injury incidence.
DESIGN: Pre-post treatment-non treatment group comparison. PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION: The program was administered by a trained psychologist on a once-a-week, 1-h session basis. PARTICIPANTS: Seventy-four male soccer players from four National Youth league teams voluntarily participated. Teams were randomly assigned to either treatment/non-treatment group. MEASURES: Injury protocol, Self-monitoring cards, Athletes' satisfaction and commitment survey, Coaches' interview.
RESULTS: Group main effect and Time-Group interaction effect were both statistically significant, F(1,60) = 8.30, p = 0.005, η(2)p = 0.121, with the average number of injuries larger in the post-treatment phase of non-treatment group (p = 0.005, η(2)p = 0.077). There was a significant decrease in the average number of injuries for the intervention group before and after implementing the program (p < 0.001, η(2)p = 0.309).
CONCLUSIONS: A controlled implementation of a psychosocial program was effective in reducing youth soccer sport injuries, with a high level of satisfaction and commitment from the athletes, as well as high acceptance from the coaches.
Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Language: en |