Mental Health and Involuntary Retirement from Sports Post-Musculoskeletal Injury in Adult Athletes: a Systematic Review

Purpose of Review The psychological aspects of musculoskeletal injury are often overlooked in the rehabilitation process. This review examines the effects of musculoskeletal injury on mental health in adult athletes and identifies themes to guide further research. Recent Findings Athletes are at ris...

Ausführliche Beschreibung

Gespeichert in:
Bibliographische Detailangaben
Veröffentlicht in:Current reviews in musculoskeletal medicine 2023-05, Vol.16 (5), p.211-219
Hauptverfasser: Furie, Kira, Park, Anna L., Wong, Stephanie E.
Format: Artikel
Sprache:eng
Schlagworte:
Online-Zugang:Volltext
Tags: Tag hinzufügen
Keine Tags, Fügen Sie den ersten Tag hinzu!
Beschreibung
Zusammenfassung:Purpose of Review The psychological aspects of musculoskeletal injury are often overlooked in the rehabilitation process. This review examines the effects of musculoskeletal injury on mental health in adult athletes and identifies themes to guide further research. Recent Findings Athletes are at risk for mental health struggles due to high athletic identity and identity foreclosure. Injured athletes have specifically been shown to have higher rates of anxiety and depression when compared to the general population. There is a lack of intervention-based research on the psychological well-being of athletes, and there are no systematic reviews synthesizing the impact of musculoskeletal injury on the mental health of adult athletes across a variety of sports. Summary Across professional, college-level, and amateur athletes, musculoskeletal injury is associated with worse mental health scores, including higher distress, higher anxiety and depression, lower social functioning, and lower health-related quality of life. For adults, involuntary retirement from sports due to musculoskeletal injury is a common theme associated with increased psychological distress, anxiety, and depression. In the reviewed literature, 22 unique mental health and 12 distinct physical health screening tools were used. Two articles studied interventions addressing mental health post-injury. Further research using an integrated physical and psychological approach to recovery is warranted and may improve mental and physical outcomes for injured athletes.
ISSN:1935-973X
1935-9748
1935-9748
DOI:10.1007/s12178-023-09830-6