A qualitative analysis of Swedish sport psychology practitioners’ experience of a continued professional development program

Although sport psychology practitioners and researchers acknowledge the importance of continued professional development (CPD) for professional effectiveness and excellence, few studies have explored the influence of CPD activities on the practitioners' practice and thinking. This study examined qualified Swedish sport psychology practitioners' experiences of engaging in a CPD program and how it impacted their professional development. The Swedish Sports Confederation offers a CPD program that targets performance enhancement services and psychotherapy for sport psychology practitioners. We explored the influence of this CPD program on the professional development of 13 graduates (five females; age in years: M = 41.2, SD = 8.3) via semi-structured interviews. Our stance involved a realist ontology and constructionist epistemology. We followed the six-step Reflexive Thematic Analysis procedures to analyze data. We identified four themes of CPD: (1) Critique (participants decided to do the CPD program because of perceived gaps in their knowledge and skills), (2) Change (participants discussed several changes as a result of the CPD program), (3) Context (participants discussed the aspects of the CPD program that promoted change), and (4) Challenge (participants mentioned issues related to having completed the program). The study provides insights into the value of CPD activities for sport psychology practitioners, advances current knowledge on practitioner maturation, and illustrates how CPD fits within a practitioner's lifelong learning. Future research could investigate the professional development of mid-career sport psychology practitioners engaging in other CPD programs to confirm or extend this work

A qualitative analysis of Swedish sport psychology practitioners' experience of a continued professional development program.

Although sport psychology practitioners and researchers acknowledge the importance of continued professional development (CPD) for professional effectiveness and excellence, few studies have explored the influence of CPD activities on the practitioners' practice and thinking. This study examined qualified Swedish sport psychology practitioners' experiences of engaging in a CPD program and how it impacted their professional development. The Swedish Sports Confederation offers a CPD program that targets performance enhancement services and psychotherapy for sport psychology practitioners. We explored the influence of this CPD program on the professional development of 13 graduates (five females; age in years: M = 41.2, SD = 8.3) via semi-structured interviews. Our stance involved a realist ontology and constructionist epistemology. We followed the six-step Reflexive Thematic Analysis procedures to analyze data. We identified four themes of CPD: (1) Critique (participants decided to do the CPD program because of perceived gaps in their knowledge and skills), (2) Change (participants discussed several changes as a result of the CPD program), (3) Context (participants discussed the aspects of the CPD program that promoted change), and (4) Challenge (participants mentioned issues related to having completed the program). The study provides insights into the value of CPD activities for sport psychology practitioners, advances current knowledge on practitioner maturation, and illustrates how CPD fits within a practitioner's lifelong learning. Future research could investigate the professional development of mid-career sport psychology practitioners engaging in other CPD programs to confirm or extend this work

Full Title: Examining the Presence of Back Pain in Competitive Athletes: A Focus on Stress and Recovery

Context - Explanatory approaches for back pain (BP) in athletes focus on biomechanical factors while neglecting psychological perspectives. Psychological factors have gained importance in the prediction of injuries in athletes and BP in the general population, with stress and recovery emerging as central risk factors. However, scarce evidence exists regarding the role of these aspects for the prevalent burden of back pain (BP). Objective - To investigate the association between stress and recovery parameters and the presence of BP. Design - Cross-sectional design. Setting - The questionnaires were distributed after the training sessions. Participants - A total number 345 competitive athletes (Mage = 18.31, SDage = 5.40) was investigated. The classification of the athletes' competitive status was based on performance level. Interventions - Data were collected using questionnaires for the assessment of stress, recovery, and BP. Main outcome measures - We performed a multiple logistic regression to obtain Odds Ratios (OR) for stress and recovery parameters with regard to the outcome variable BP status. Results - For stress, the dimension Overall Stress (OR = 1.83, 95 % CI [1.30-2.59], p = .001) and the scale Physical Complaints(OR = 1.68, 95 % CI [1.25-2.25], p = .001) of the general version of the Recovery-Stress Questionnaire (RESTQ-Basic) resulted to be significantly associated with BP. None of the recovery-related scales displayed a statistically significant relationship with BP. Conclusion - The outcomes of this study imply a modest association between stress and the presence of BP in competitive athletes. Practitioners may take these findings into account regarding the conception of training and for monitoring purposes

Evaluation of the short-term effects of recovery tools in the rehabilitation of chronic back pain: a feasibility study

Background: Recovery represents an individualised, psychological construct serving as a buffer for health complaints and back pain. Recovery might also help in reducing chronic back pain (CBP) but has not been examined within CBP rehabilitation. Aim: Testing the acute effects of recovery tools to reduce CBP and stress and to improve recovery. Methods: A longitudinal, quasi-randomised pilot study with 55 individuals on sick leave caused by CBP was conducted. The acute effects of a multimodal out-patient rehabilitation programme were evaluated, while recovery tools were conveyed within the intervention group. The control group received regular treatment. Validated psychometric questionnaires to measure CBP, stress and recovery were used. Results: Repeated measures ANOVA indicated significant reductions for Pain Intensity (p

Recovery-stress patterns and low back pain: differences in pain intensity and disability

Recovery describes a restoring process influencing the health conditions of individuals but a potential link to low back pain (LBP) has not been scrutinized so far. Psychological strategies to deal with LBP have been considered within the biopsychosocial approach but substantial evidence regarding specific psychological underpinnings remains elusive. The current study aimed to compare individuals with different recovery-stress patterns (i.e. specific combinations of recovery/stress) regarding their pain and disability in the lower back.Cross-sectional data from 265 physically active individuals with non-specific LBP were collected via standardized questionnaires. The participants engaged in prescribed exercise therapy provided by a healthcare professional owing to their back burden. A k-means cluster analysis identified three clusters.Cluster 1 entailed individuals with high recovery and low stress values, Cluster 2 represented participants with medium scores on both dimensions and Cluster 3 included participants with low recovery and high stress values. The statistical analyses for pain intensity using analyses of covariance indicated significantly higher values for Cluster 3 compared with Clusters 1 and 2 for worst pain intensity (p\ua

Aus der Arztpraxis in den Sportverein? Herausforderung an eine ärztliche Präventionsempfehlung zur Veränderung des Bewegungsverhaltens

Kleinert JM, Belz J, Zepp H-C, et al., eds. Aus der Arztpraxis in den Sportverein? Herausforderung an eine ärztliche Präventionsempfehlung zur Veränderung des Bewegungsverhaltens. Köln: Deutsche Sporthochschule Köln; 2016

Psychosocial interventions for back pain in elite sport

$\textbf {Psychosocial interventions}$ for back pain patients are well established elements of treatment regimens and numerous reviews support their effectiveness. Research is sparse regarding the specific case of elite athletes suffering from back pain(BP), and the effects of psychological treatments in this population. $\textbf {Therefore}$, based on a biopsychosocial paradigm, this article describes four intervention approaches with a specific orientation towards athletes’ 1) pain perception and pain management, 2) body experience and body concept, 3) motivation and self-regulation, and 4) stress management and recovery. $\textbf {For each of these four topics}$, a short overview of the key research and existing interventions is given. Based on the overviews of these four topics, specific treatments that have been developed by the authors are described. These treatments particularly aim 1) to gradually increase physical and social activity while reducing BP and disability, 2) to concentrate on positive aspects of body experience, 3) to enhance patients’ self-efficacy and intrinsic motivation for rehabilitation and 4) to promote and monitor individual recovery activities,and relaxation techniques. Evidence concerning the effects and feasibility of these developments is expected from current intervention studies. $\textbf {Future studies}$ are encouraged to examine whether the developed interventions are also effective when offered by trained physiotherapists or physicians in primary care.$\textbf {Psychosoziale Interventionen}$ haben sich im Rahmen der Behandlung von Rückenschmerzen als ein fester Bestandteil etabliert und eine Vielzahl von Literaturübersichten zeigt ihre Effektivität. In Bezug auf die speziellen Aspekte von Leistungssportlern und -sportlerinnen mit Rückenschmerzen und die Effektivität von psychosozialen Maßnahmen im Rahmen ihrer Behandlung ist die Forschungslage jedoch schwach. $\textbf {Daher beschreibt}$ der vorliegende Beitrag auf Basis eines biopsychosozialen Paradigmas vier Interventionsansätze mit spezifischer Ausrichtung auf 1) die Schmerzbewältigung und das Schmerzmanagement, 2) die Körpererfahrung und das Körperkonzept, 3) die Motivation und die Selbstregulation und 4) das Stressmanagement und die Erholung von Sportlern und Sportlerinnen. $\textbf {Für jede der vier Ausrichtungen}$ wird eine kurze Übersicht über die Forschung und bestehende Interventionsansätze gegeben. Basierend auf diesen Übersichten werden spezifische Interventionsansätze dargestellt, die von den Autorinnen und Autoren entwickelt wurden. Diese Interventionsansätze zielen insbesondere darauf ab 1) die körperliche und soziale Aktivität zu erhöhen während Schmerzen und Einschränkungen verringert werden, 2) die Konzentration auf positive Aspekte der Körpererfahrung zu lenken, 3) die Selbstwirksamkeitserwartung und intrinsische Motivation für die Rehabilitation zu erhöhen und 4) individuelle Erholungsmaßnahmen sowie Entspannungstechniken zu fördern und zu begleiten. Belege hinsichtlich der Effekte und Umsetzbarkeit dieser Interventionsansätze werden von aktuell laufenden Studien erwartet. Zukünftige Studiensollen darüber hinaus zeigen, ob die Interventionen auch effektiv sind, wenn sie durch ausgebildete Therapeutinnen und Therapeuten eingesetzt werden