Injury Psychology and Return-to-Sport Readiness

Injury psychology is how an athlete thinks, feels and behaves after injury, and it shapes rehabilitation and the return to sport as much as tissue healing does.

A cruciate ligament rupture or a long spell out can take away routine, social world and identity as well as physical capacity. The sport and exercise medicine (SEM) clinician is often the first person an athlete turns to when confidence falters.

This page covers how athletes respond to injury, and how psychological readiness is assessed and supported on the way back.