Athlete's Mental Health and Quality of Life After Sports Injuries.

JBJS Rev · Sep 01 2025 · Review

Albishi W, Alajlan F, Alshehri S, AbuDujain NM

Department of Family and Community Medicine, King Saud University Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Sports Medicine

SUMMARY — THE REDUCTIONPsychological factors shape both injury risk and recovery; postinjury distress slows rehabilitation, female athletes fare worse, and integrating psychological support into rehab improves outcomes.
Abstract, as published

» Psychological factors significantly influence both the risk and recovery process of sports injuries, with inadequate coping skills and high life stress levels identified as key preinjury risk factors.» Postinjury psychological distress, including symptoms of anger, depression, and anxiety, can hinder an athlete's rehabilitation and prolong recovery time.» Female athletes demonstrate a higher incidence of sports injuries and tend to experience more severe psychological responses after injury compared with male athletes.» Incorporating psychological support and interventions into rehabilitation programs improves outcomes and supports holistic recovery for injured athletes.» Recognizing and addressing mental health as a central component of injury management is essential for optimizing athlete well-being and performance.

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