Fear of Movement and Reinjury in Sports Medicine: Relevance for Rehabilitation and Return to Sport
Date
2021-12-23
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Physical Therapy
Abstract
Athletes are defined by their ability to move and are often accustomed to pain as it relates to their sports and exercise regime. The forced movement restriction and pain associated with an acute or overuse injury has a profound effect not only on their physical abilities but also on their psychological well-being and social context. With the goal of returning to sport, the rehabilitation focus historically has been on recovery of physical attributes, but more recent research is addressing the psychological factors. This Perspective proposes that—according to the current evidence in sports medicine—the fear that affects choice of treatment, rehabilitation, and return to sports is intertwined with physical capacity and recovery of function. Past injury is also 1 of the main risk factors for a sports injury; therefore, fear of reinjury is not irrational. For an athlete, the fear related to a sports injury encompasses the fear of reinjury along with fear of not being able to return to the sport at their highest performance level—and the fear of having lifelong debilitating pain and symptoms. This Perspective reviews the evidence for the influence of fear of movement and reinjury on choice of treatment, rehabilitation, and return to sport and provides suggestions on how to address this fear during the continuum of treatment and return to sports.
Description
This is a pre-copyedited, author-produced version of an article accepted for publication in Physical Therapy following peer review. The version of record Joanna Kvist, PT, PhD, Karin Grävare Silbernagel, PT, ATC, PhD, Fear of Movement and Reinjury in Sports Medicine: Relevance for Rehabilitation and Return to Sport, Physical Therapy, Volume 102, Issue 2, February 2022, pzab272, https://doi.org/10.1093/ptj/pzab272 is available online at: https://doi.org/10.1093/ptj/pzab272. This article will be embargoed until 12/23/2022.
Keywords
Achilles Tendon, Ligaments, Orthopedics, Sports, Sports Medicine, Tendon Injuries
Citation
Joanna Kvist, PT, PhD, Karin Grävare Silbernagel, PT, ATC, PhD, Fear of Movement and Reinjury in Sports Medicine: Relevance for Rehabilitation and Return to Sport, Physical Therapy, Volume 102, Issue 2, February 2022, pzab272, https://doi.org/10.1093/ptj/pzab272