Utilization Sports Psychology to Prevent Sports Injury: A Comprehensive Systematic Review

Authors : Ömer Zambak, Sermet Toktas

Pages : 263-272

Doi:10.46463/ijrss.1802286

View : 108 | Download : 439

Publication Date : 2025-12-22

Article Type : Review Paper

Abstract :Sports injuries are a global issue that threatens athletes\\\' physical and mental health, performance, and career longevity. While traditional prevention strategies have largely focused on biomechanical and physiological factors, the role of psychological factors in the etiology of injuries has gained increasing recognition in recent years. The aim of this systematic review is to evaluate the effectiveness of psychological interventions, such as stress management, mental training, and mindfulness, in preventing sports injuries through a synthesis of high-quality scientific studies published between 2000 and 2018. This systematic review was conducted following the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines. A comprehensive literature search was performed. Inclusion criteria included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and meta-analyses, a minimum follow-up period of 6 months, and a primary outcome measure of injury incidence. The methodological quality of the studies was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool and AMSTAR-2, with studies at high risk of bias being excluded. The analyzed studies demonstrate that structured psychological interventions are statistically significantly effective in preventing sports injuries. These interventions were found to reduce overall injury incidence by 28% to 42% (Combined OR=0.62). Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)-based programs reduced anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries in elite football players by 38%. Mindfulness-based interventions, particularly in endurance sports, reduced overuse injuries by 31% and decreased the number of injuries per 1,000 training hours from 5.2 to 3.6. These practices significantly increased neuromuscular control (average effect size d=0.47). It was confirmed that the interventions resulted in physiological improvements such as an average 28% reduction in cortisol levels and a +14 ms increase in heart rate variability (RMSSD). Additionally, cognitive gains such as a 0.21-second improvement in danger perception time and an increase in decision-making quality (d=0.39) were also identified. The findings indicate that the integration of psychological interventions into standard injury prevention protocols is an inevitable necessity. These approaches, which target the physiological and cognitive mechanisms of stress, play a central role in protecting athlete health. In this context, it is recommended to adopt a multidisciplinary approach based on collaboration among coaches, sports physicians, and psychologists, and to implement frameworks such as the \\\"Integrated Biopsychosocial Prevention Model.\\\".
Keywords : Spor Psikolojisi, Yaralanma Önleme, Psikolojik müdahaleler

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