Positive reframing: An important but underutilized coping strategy in youth athletes undergoing sports-related knee surgery

It is unknown how specific coping strategies are associated with the short-term outcomes among athletes following knee surgery. 1) To determine whether specific coping strategies are associated with satisfaction, return to sport, self-reported knee function, or kinesiophobia following sports-related knee surgery. 2) To determine whether these associations vary by age, sex, or surgical procedure. Case series. Athletes (n=184 total; n=104 men, n=80 women; n=38 age 40) who underwent outpatient knee surgery were enrolled from a single center. Utilization of specific coping strategies (self-distraction, use of emotional or instrumental support, venting, positive reframing, and acceptance) was assessed pre-operatively with the Brief-COPE inventory. Relationship between coping strategies and post-operative satisfaction, return to sport, International Knee Documentation Committee-subjective (IKDC-S) and Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia scores at median 10.7 months follow-up were determined with consideration for age, sex, and surgical procedure. Return to prior level of sport was 72%, and satisfaction was 86%. Most coping strategies had age-specific utilization rates; positive reframing was utilized least frequently in ages