Pain in Competitive Athletes With Physical Disabilities and Techniques for Its Management
Condition: Athletic Injuries; Physical Disability; Chronic Pain
MeSH terms: Chronic Pain; Athletic Injuries
Study type: Observational

Summary: 
      There are psychosocial factors that affect pain, and therefore, psychological intervention
      techniques have been added to its usual pharmacological and physiotherapeutic treatment.
      Despite the abundant evidence that addresses psychosocial factors as clear mediators in the
      perception of pain, the use of psychological techniques for pain management in competitive
      athletes, and more especially in competitive athletes with physical disabilities, is scarce.
      The purpose of this study was to ascertain the perception of high-level competitive athletes
      with physical disability and sports agents (coaches, physiotherapists and psychologists).
    

Detailed description: 
      Qualitative study with in-depth interviews to find out the perception of sports agents
      (coaches, physiotherapists and psychologists) and athletes on how pain can affect the
      development of the sports career and to determine what techniques are known and/or
      implemented by sports agents (coaches, physiotherapists and psychologists) and athletes to
      manage pain.
    

Intervention name(s): Qualitative study. Pain in competitive athletes with physical disabilities and techniques for its management.
Intervention type(s): Other
Intervention description(s): This study used a qualitative, exploratory and descriptive methodology, with a semi-structured interview technique. The purpose was to respond to the specific objectives set out in this research from the perspective of competitive athletes and sports agents (physiotherapist, coach and psychologist). The thematic cores that served as a script for the interview were for the athletes and sports agents 1) sporting characteristics of the professionals; 2) perception of how pain affects this type of athlete and what repercussions it has on the development of their sporting career, and 3) knowledge of techniques and/or strategies for pain management (athlete, coach and psychologist).
The interviews were conducted via skype. After transcription of all the interviews, validation by the interviewees was applied for the reliability of the research. Two types of triangulation were applied to ensure the quality of the data.
Observational model: Other
Time perspective: Other
Sampling method: Probability Sample
Study population: 
        A total of 20 participants were interviewed on a voluntary basis (7 competitive athletes
        with physical disabilities, 4 physiotherapists, 5 coaches and 4 psychologists) after being
        informed of the research objectives. The sports agents (coaches, physiotherapists and
        psychologists) were active and worked with high-level athletes in their professional field.
        As for the athletes, all were active except one, who had been retired for eight years, and
        took part in national and international competitions and Paralympic Games in their
        respective sports disciplines. All of them belonged to the Spanish Sports Federation for
        People with Physical Disabilities (FEDDF)
      
Keywords: Athlete; Physical disability; Competition; Chronic pain; Psychological models