52.2 34.8 13 0
Fear you will never fully recover 21.7 17.4 43.5 17.4
Fear of re-injury 26.1 39.1 34.8
Family Physicians
Seven participants or 30.4% of the sample saw a family physician during their rehabilitation. These participants reported seeing their family physician for 3.33 (SD=3.12) visits, on average. Of these family physicians, all seven were male and all were estimated as being between the ages of 30 and 50. Injured athletes perceived family physicians to discuss 'concerns that the consequences of the injury will disappoint others most frequently, with 71.4% indicating their family physician discussed this 'sometimes' or 'often'. This was followed 'frustration associated with injury' with 57.2% stating their
family physician discussed this aspect 'sometimes' or 'often'. The least commonly discussed psychological aspect of injury as perceived by the injured athletes in this study was 'concerns about weight loss or gain following the injury'. All of the participants who saw a family physician indicated the family physician 'rarely' or 'never' discussed this psychological aspect of injury. Appendix (F) depicts the full breakdown of how often the participants thought that their family physicians addressed the psychological aspects of their injury. With regard to the use of psychological skills injured athletes in this study indicated that family physicians rarely used psychological skills in their treatment. According to participants over 70% of the family physicians they saw used all the listed psychological skills 'rarely' or 'never'. Appendix (G) depicts the specific figures of how often the health care professionals reportedly employed psychological skills with the injured athletes. All participants who saw a family physician reported being 'somewhat' or 'very' satisfied with the physical care the received from their family physician. They indicated being less satisfied, however, with the psychological care provided by their family physician with 42.9% reporting being only 'somewhat' satisfied or 'very' unsatisfied with the psychological care they received from their family physician. Orthopaedic Surgeon
Six participants or 21.7% of participants met with an orthopaedic surgeon during their rehabilitation process. Participants who saw an orthopaedic surgeon reported 4.60 (SD=5.87) visits, on average. All of the orthopaedic surgeons were male. One was indicated to be under 30, four were assumed to be in the 30 to 50 age category, and one other was in the over 50 category. In addressing the psychological aspect of injury participants indicated orthopaedic surgeons most often addressed 'fears about surgery' (83.4%) said it was discussed 'sometime' or 'often') followed up 'concerns and self-doubt
about not being able to perform at the same level after the injury/surgery' (56.7% said it was discussed 'sometimes' or 'often'). The least commonly discussed psychological aspects of injury according to participants were 'concerns about weight loss or gain following the injury', 'dependence on pain killers' and 'inability to motivate self to engage in rehabilitation tasks' all of which participants indicated were discussed 'never' 83.4% of the time. Appendix (H) depicts the complete breakdown of how often the participants thought that their orthopaedic surgeon addressed the psychological aspect of their injury. In terms of the use of psychological skills long and short term goals were reported being used most frequently with 66.7% and 83.3% reporting their orthopaedic surgeon used these skills 'sometimes' or 'often'. The psychological skills that were reported as being least used were imagery, social support with other injured athletes and relaxation skills all of which were reported as being used 'never' or 'rarely' by
orthopaedic surgeons. Appendix (I) indicates how often the orthopaedic surgeon reportedly used psychological skills with the participants in their practice. In terms of satisfaction with physical care, all of the participants who saw an orthopaedic surgeon reported being 'somewhat' or 'very' satisfied with the physical care they received, while 83.3% of the participants were 'somewhat' or 'very' satisfied with the quality of the psychological care they received from their orthopaedic surgeon.
Sports Medicine Physician
Ten participants or 39.1% of participants saw a sports medicine physician during their rehabilitation. Participants who saw a sports medicine physician had a mean of 4.31(SD=6.41) visits. All of the sports medicine physicians were male. Two were thought to be under 30 while the other seven were perceived to be between 30 and 50. Participants indicated sports that there were no psychological aspects of injury which their sports
medicine physician address 'often' however 'fears of re-injury' was reported as the most commonly discussed psychological aspect with 66.7% indicating it was discussed
'sometimes5. Appendix (J) demonstrates how the participants thought the sports medicìiie physicians they saw addressed all of the different dimensions of the psychological aspect of their injuries. As you can see from Appendix J no participants indicated that their sports medicine physician addressed any of the listed psychological aspects of injury often. Again, long and short term goals were indicated as most frequently discussed by sports medicine physicians however the frequency with which they were used was rather low. Twenty-five percent indicated long term goals were used 'sometimes' or 'often' while 37.5% indicated short term goals were 'sometimes' or 'often' used. Imagery was reported as the least commonly used skill with all participants indicating it was never used by their sports medicine physician. Appendix (K) demonstrates the psychological skills each participant thought their sports medicine physician used in their treatment.. Appendix K notes that only long term goals were ever reported as being 'often' used by the sports medicine physician. In terms of satisfaction 75% of participants who saw a sports medicine physician were 'somewhat' or 'very' satisfied with the physical care they received while 62.5% indicated they were somewhat or very satisfied with the
psychological care they received. Other Physician
In the online questionnaire there was a place for participants to indicate if they had seen another physician (other than the ones indicated). Although two participants
indicated that they had seen another physician during their rehabilitation, neither identified the type or speciality of the physician. Only one participant indicated how many visits they had had with their other physician which was one. Both of the other