ABSTRACT
The positive benefits associated with increased participation in sports have been counterbalanced by an upsurge in injury incidences across all levels of participation. An emerging body of literature has demonstrated that emotions can play a role in sport injury occurrence, rehabilitation, and return to participation, affecting individuals’ thoughts and behaviours, as well as injury recovery outcomes. The literature has also demonstrated that emotions can affect the injury process on a cellular level; unpleasant emotions are known to suppress our immune system, while pleasant emotions strengthen it. This is due to our body’s hormonal and physical reactions to the emotions experienced, that is, positive emotions can help you both feel better and fight the injury on a deeper, cellular level. The goal of this chapter is to discuss the role of emotions in the biopsychosocial process of sport injury. The authors aim to briefly present theory and research that explains the biopsychosocial significance of emotions as an antecedent and consequence of injury. This chapter, from an applied perspective, will provide practitioners’ suggestions for evidence-based psychosocial strategies, which can be beneficial during sport injury rehabilitation and return to participation.
