Psychological Recovery after Sports Injury by EMDR Approach: A Case Report

Abstract

The aim of this research was to examine the effect of EMDR therapy applied after a sports injury on an athlete’s psychological skills and to determine the athlete’s views about the therapy. This research consists of a case report in which the EMDR method was used. The case is a 15-year-old male athlete with an acute knee injury. Due to his injury, the athlete attended EMDR sessions planned for him in addition to his treatment with a physiotherapist. The athlete participated in 5 sessions, each of which lasted between 45 to 90 minutes, once a week. Coping Skills Inventory and Psychological Performance Strategies Test were applied to the athlete before and after the treatment. Later, the athlete was interviewed regarding his therapy experience. The results showed that after EMDR application, the athlete's scores on concentration, high performance under pressure, coping with difficulties, confidence and success motivation, emotional control, imagery, activation, attentional control, and relaxation scores increased. In addition, the interview data revealed that the athlete had experienced negative emotions and thoughts such as anxiety, sadness, regret, guilt, and weakness about his injury before the therapy whereas after the therapy he improved in the areas of positive thinking, believing in the effect of therapy, relaxation, concentration, not self blaming himself, correct breathing, self-control, desensitization and feeling stronger. As a result, it can be said that EMDR therapy may positively affect athletes’ psychological skills after sports injuries and that as a result of this therapy, athletes may have positive experiences in many areas.

Keywords

• Athlete
• injury
• EMDR
• psychological performance

Spor Yaralanmalarında EMDR Terapisinin İşlevselliği: Bir Olgu Sunumu

Abstract

Bu araştırmanın amacı, spor yaralanması sonrası gerçekleştirilen EMDR terapisinin sporcunun psikolojik becerileri üzerindeki etkisinin incelenmesi ve uygulanan terapiye yönelik sporcunun görüşlerinin belirlenmesidir. Araştırmada, EMDR yöntemi ile ele alınmış bir olgu sunumu bulunmaktadır. Olgu 15 yaşında, müsabaka sırasında dizinden yaralanan erkek bir sporcudur. Sporcu, yaşadığı yaralanma nedeniyle fizyoterapist ile normal tedavisine ek olarak kendisi için planlanan EMDR seanslarına katılmıştır. Sporcu, haftada bir olmak üzere her biri 45-90 dakika aralığında süren 5 seansa katılmıştır. Sporcuya tedavi öncesi ve sonrasında Sportif Sorunlarla Başa Çıkma Becerileri Envanteri ve Psikolojik Performans Stratejileri Testi uygulanmıştır. Tamamlanan 5 seans sonunda, sporcu ile ayrıca bireysel görüşme gerçekleştirilerek süreç hakkındaki deneyimleri belirlenmiştir. Uygulama sonrasında sporcunun konsantrasyon, baskı altında yüksek performans, zorluklarla baş etme, güven ve başarı güdüsü ile duygusal kontrol, imgeleme, aktivasyon, dikkat kontrolü ve gevşeme puanlarında artış olduğu belirlenmiştir. Yapılan görüşmede ise sporcu uygulama öncesinde yaralanması ile ilgili endişe, üzüntü, pişmanlık, suçluluk ve zayıflık hissettiğini belirtirken, EMDR seanslarını tamamladıktan sonra olumlu düşünme, terapinin etkisine inanma, rahatlama, konsantrasyon, kendini suçlamama, doğru nefes alıp verme, kendini kontrol edebilme, duyarsızlaştırma ve daha güçlü hissetme alanlarında gelişim sağladığını belirtmiştir. Sonuç olarak EMDR terapisinin, spor yaralanmaları sonrası sporcunun psikolojik becerilerini olumlu olarak etkileyebileceği ve uygulama sonucunda sporcunun birçok alanda olumlu deneyimler yaşadığı söylenebilir.

Keywords

• Sporcu
• yaralanma
• EMDR
• psikolojik performans

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