Psychological readiness to return to sport following injury: A state-of-the-art review

Abstract

In recent years, the topic of psychological readiness to return to sport (RTS) after injury has received significant research attention. Given the growth of work in this area, it is instructive to take stock of recent empirical developments and to chart a course for future research. This presentation highlights findings from a state of the-art review examining psychological readiness to RTS following injury. Three main issues are discussed including: (a) how psychological readiness to RTS has been conceptualized and operationalized; (b) factors that enable (and constrain) psychological readiness to RTS; and (c) implications of readiness to RTS. Critical reflections on the research to date, a definition of psychological readiness, and novel hypotheses and research questions are articulated.

Acknowledgments: The authors would like to acknowledge the assistance of Alfred Mowdood, a research Librarian at the University of Utah who facilitated our literature search plan. We would also like to thank Cameron Collict, a masters student in the School of Kinesiology and Physical Activity Sciences at the University of Montreal for his substantial efforts on the in-and end-text references and tables.