Cb. Scherzer et al., Psychological skills and adherence to rehabilitation after reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament, J SPORT REH, 10(3), 2001, pp. 165-172
Objective: To examine the relationship between self-reported use of psychol
ogical skills and rehabilitation adherence.
Design: Prospective correlational design.
Setting: Outpatient physical-therapy clinic specializing in sports medicine
.
Patients: Fifty-four patients (17 women and 37 men) undergoing rehabilitati
on after anterior-cruciate-ligament reconstruction.
Main Outcome Measures: An abbreviated version of the Sports Injury Survey (
levleva & Orlick, 1991) was administered approximately 5 weeks after surger
y to assess use of goal setting, imagery, and positive self-talk. Four adhe
rence measures were obtained during the remainder of rehabilitation: attend
ance at rehabilitation sessions, practitioner ratings of patient adherence
at rehabilitation sessions, patient self-reports of home exercise completio
n, and patient self-reports of home cryotherapy completion.
Results: Goal setting was positively associated with home exercise completi
on and practitioner adherence ratings. Positive self-talk was positively co
rrelated with home exercise completion.
Conclusions: Use of certain psychological skills might contribute to better
adherence to sport-injury rehabilitation protocols.