ABSTRACT
This chapter explores the meaning and significance of a sports injury from an existential psychological perspective which focuses on the phenomenological experience of disruption. This disruption concerns both the experiential unity of the body-self which characterises our 'normal' mode of being, as well as the implicit unity of the past, present and future. The chapter also explores how a sports injury profoundly alters the relationships with others in the sport life-world, often leading to experiences of intense loneliness but on some occasions also a new connectedness. It discusses the spiritual dimension of sports injuries and offers reflections on how philosophical perspectives can guide our research and practice surrounding sports injury. However, although the sport psychology literature stresses the importance of social support, there is a lack of theoretical work on what loneliness is and the meanings that athletes assign to this relational disruption.
