Injuries and the Quality of Life of Collegiate Athletes: A Pilot Study

Purpose: To explore the relationship between injury severity and athletes’ quality of life, as well as the role of cognitive appraisal during participation restrictions. Method: A descriptive quantitative survey research design was used. athletes completed two self-report instruments: the time-loss from sport. Results: Data analysis yielded three main findings: (a) mean mental health scores were lower than mean physical health scores in all injury severity categories; (b) three participants had higher mental than physical health scores; and (c) only four scores were beyond the range of average health by relationship between injuries and quality of life was found, results suggested that injuries have greater psychological implications than physical implications, that the recovery process is unique for each individual, and that the optimal instrument for this context. The findings of this study were consistent with that of the appraisal has a significant role in the experience of injuries and participation restrictions; thus, athletes need to be trea holistically in order for them to achieve full recovery and increase their quality of life. INTRODUCTION An increase in participation in intercollegiate athletics has occurred among males and an 80% increase among females for sports injuries, and many more athletes are experiencing the recovery pro impairments, which often lead to participation restrictions in daily life an success of rehabilitation is affected by the interaction between the severity of the athlete’s injury and the intensity of th emotional response.2 It seems, then, that a severely injured athlete would experience many participation restrictions, more negative emotions, and require longer rehabilitation, leading to a greater decrease in quality of life compared to an athlete recovering from a less severe injury. However, the way an athlete thinks about his or her injury and resulting situation has a potentially greater impact than the existence of th Therefore, the severity of the injury and duration of rehabilitation may not be as influential on an athlete’s quality of life as assumed. The purpose of this study, then, is to explore the relationship between the level of severi of life of collegiate athletes. Quality of life incorporates “a person’s physical health, psychological state, level of independence, social relationships, a her relationship to salient features of their environment personal achievement and group membership) exist only when patterns of activity in daily life are maintained patterns are interrupted and involvement in life becomes problematic, a person experiences a dysfunc Health Organization (WHO) as “participation restriction practice and education Vol. 8 No. 4 ISSN 1540-580X Franklin, MS., OTR/L.1