Abstract
DOI: https://doi.org/10.58984/smb2602085g
Return to sports (RTS) activities after injury represents a complex process in which psychological and psychosocial factors play a significant role. This paper provides a comprehensive evaluation of the characteristics of these predictors and their impact on the course of recovery and the final outcome of RTS after injury. The selection of relevant research literature was performed through electronic databases: PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and PsycINFO, while the screening and literature selection process itself followed the established protocols of the PRISMA 2020 declaration. Nineteen original research studies tracking three thousand five hundred seventy athletes were identified. Qualitative synthesis showed that higher levels of negative psychological constructs, primarily fear of reinjury, anxiety, depression, and kinesiophobia, were associated with a longer course and more unfavorable recovery outcomes. Psychological readiness, confidence, self-efficacy, and motivation were recognized as predictors of successful RTS, but also of an increased risk of occurrence of reinjuries. Social support and adaptive coping strategies showed a protective effect through the improvement of psychological readiness and the reduction of emotional distress. RTS represents a multidimensional process that requires an integrated assessment of physical, psychological, and psychosocial factors.
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Key words
sports injuries, return to sport, psychological predictors, psychological readiness, fear of reinjury, kinesiophobia, self-efficacy
