Physiotherapists’ Perspectives on the Importance of Psychological Impact in Sports Injury Rehabilitation

Background: Psychological factors significantly impact the recovery of athletes undergoing sports injury rehabilitation. Recognizing and managing these factors is essential for effective rehabilitation outcomes.Objective: To investigate physiotherapists' perspectives on the importance of psychological impacts in sports injury rehabilitation.Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 39 physiotherapists from various universities, hospitals, and clinics in Faisalabad and Lahore using purposive sampling. Participants included physiotherapists with a minimum of three years of clinical experience. Data were collected through the Liz Hussey Physiotherapy and Sports Psychology Questionnaire (PSPQ), which assessed psychological conditions, coping behaviors, and the use of psychological techniques. Descriptive statistics were analyzed using SPSS version 25.Results: The study found that 58.3% of physiotherapists believed athletes are psychologically affected by physical injuries. The most common conditions were exercise addiction (49.35%) and stress/anxiety (48.71%). Compliance with treatment was reported as the most successful coping behavior (17.9%). Techniques frequently used included encouraging positive self-thoughts (63.46%) and communication skills (63.00%).Conclusion: Physiotherapists recognize the significant psychological impact of injuries on athletes and the need for psychological skills in rehabilitation. Training in sports psychology should be enhanced for better outcomes.