Abstract des Autors

Two exploratory studies are reported that investigated means of improving current provisions of social support for injured athletes from the perspective of sport physiotherapists. In Study 1, 19 sport physiotherapists (10 females, 9 males) from the Perth metropolitan area brainstormed ideas and suggestions to facilitate eight types of social support for athletes during rehabilitation from injury: listening support, emotional support, emotional challenge, shared reality and experience of injury, treatment appreciation, treatment challenge, personal assistance, and tangible assistance. In Study 2, 76 sport physiotherapists (39 females, 37 males) from Australia (N=65) and New Zealand (N=11) completed a questionnaire, compiled of items generated in Study 1, which asked respondents to rate suggestions and recommendations in terms of both importance and practicability. Notable findings observed were: 1) sport physiotherapists often have to provide an information and explanation "bridge" between injured athletes and their physician and; 2) while in an excellent position to offer informational support, sport physiotherapists can also provide significant emotional support to injured athletes during rehabilitation; 3) effective communication and feedback between the injured athlete, his or her physiotherapist, and other rehabilitation personnel is required at all times; 4) having a good understanding of the athlete's sport and the requisite skills is important for providing certain types of social support (such as listening support and treatment challenge); and 5) the use of mental skills can be used by sport physiotherapists as a means of providing social support to injured athletes despite their perceived limitations in applying such skills. The implications of the results for sport physiotherapists are discussed and recommendations for further research are made. Verf.-Referat