Protection Motivation Theory and Adherence to Sport Injury Rehabilitation Revisited

With estimates in excess of 3 million injuries sustained each year in the United States by children and adults in sport and recreational activities (Bijur et al., 1995; Booth, 1987), sport injury has emerged as a serious public health concern. For injuries requiring rehabilitation, adherence to the prescribed regimen is considered important to achieve successful treatment outcomes (Taylor & Taylor, 1998). Depending on the particular measure of adherence used, adherence rates ranging from 40 to 91% have been documented in sport injury rehabilitation settings (Brewer, 1999). Evidence of a positive relationship between adherence to sport injury rehabilitation programs and clinical outcome has been obtained in several studies (Brewer, Van Raalte, Cornelius, et al., 2000; Derscheid & Feiring, 1987; Hawkins, 1989; Meani, Migliorini, & Tinti, 1986; Satterfield, Dowden, & Yasamura, 1990). The Sport Psychologist, 2003, 17, 95-103 © 2003 Human Kinetics Publishers, Inc.