Influence of Athletic Trainers’ Social Support on Athletic Recovery and Mental Wellness: A Critically Appraised Topic.

Student Author Information

Breanna M. Fuller, University of LynchburgFollow

Location

Turner Gymnasium

Access Type

Campus Access Only

Start Date

4-17-2024 12:00 PM

End Date

3-17-2024 1:15 PM

College

College of Health Sciences

Department

Athletic Training

Keywords

athletic trainers, social support, injury recovery, athletes, rehabilitation support, mental health outcomes, psychological well-being, injury rehabilitation

Abstract

Influence of Athletic Trainers’ Social Support on Athletic Recovery and Mental Wellness: A Critically Appraised Topic.

Breanna Fuller

Clinical Scenario:Social support, defined as individuals on whom a person can rely on during periods of stress, is an important resource for athletes. Recent research has shown that social support during a period of injury recovery may be beneficial to athletes during injury recovery, and for their overall mental health. There have not been a large number of studies examining social support from athletic trainers, leaving a wide gap in the literature. Clinical Question: Does social support from athletic trainers, compared to a lack of social support from athletic trainers, help collegiate athletes with injury recovery and overall mental health?

Summary of Key Findings: After a thorough literature search, three studies relevant to the clinical question were selected. Two were prospective cohort studies and one was a qualitative study. All three studies provided evidence that implementing social support from athletic trainers, or implementing interventions during time of recovery, help athletes with a more efficient recovery process. Interventions that involve social support help injured athletes manage symptoms of depression and anxiety. Social support can positively influence both physical and psychological recovery outcomes of injured collegiate athletes. Athletes reported that their ATs were the people they could really count on during recovery, helped them feel relaxed, and that ATs accepted them. Clinical Bottom Line: Social support from athletic trainers during injury recovery appears to positively influence athletes' recovery and healing process, which has been found to enhance mental health outcomes. The potential positive impact of social support from athletic trainers on both physical and mental aspects of athletes’ recovery suggests that social support should be considered as an important component of rehabilitation strategies in the field of sports medicine.

Key Words: athletic trainers, social support, injury recovery, athletes, rehabilitation support, mental health outcomes, psychological well-being, injury rehabilitation

Faculty Members

• Dr. Tom Bowman

• Dr. Debbie Bradney

Faculty Mentor(s)

Dr. Tom Bowman, PhD, ATC Dr. Debbie Bradney, DPE, ATC, ACSM-CEP

Comments

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1wJHq6Ziq6uSptGioolEfw-JGTdJHMqmc1D7WSO1O5QM/edit?usp=sharing

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