## 4 Discussion
The internal consistency in the present study was consistent with the original English validation of the PRIA-RS questionnaire by [PERSON] [9]. The results from our study showed acceptable internal consistency and excellent intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) for the PRIA-RS factors. [PERSON] [9] calculated [PERSON]'s \(\alpha\) for the PRIA-RS with a sample of 102 soccer athletes, finding a high internal consistency reliability ([PERSON]'s \(\alpha=0.81\)), but did not re-administer the questionnaire, and thus did not test the reliability of repeated measures. In contrast, our study assessed the test-retest reliability with an ICC analysis conducted two weeks apart, allowing sufficient time for reliable results [48]. In addition to the ICC values (0.973-0.994), the Standard Error of Measurement (SEM) was also calculated, with results (1.64-3.15) indicating a low measurement error [40]. The PRIA-RS questionnaire provides a comprehensive tool for assessing the psychological readiness of athletes to return to sport, evaluating key variables such as self-confidence, individual perception, insecurity, and fear of re-injury. By cross-culturally adapting the questionnaire to Greek, this study offers rehabilitation professionals a reliable tool to assess athletes' psychological readiness as they return to competitive sports following an injury. The completion of the questionnaire can provide valuable insights into an athlete's psychological state, highlighting potential areas of concern that may require further investigation by rehabilitation professionals. This can help predict the likelihood of re-injury and, in the long term, aid in its prevention. However, the present study has several limitations that should be considered. First, the sample consisted only of male soccer players. Additionally, the athletes varied in playing experience and competitive level, leading to differences in their psychological readiness and eagerness to return to action. Moreover, the exclusive focus on male athletes limits the generalizability of the findings to female athletes, given that gender differences in psychological responses to musculoskeletal injuries have been documented in the literature [36]. Furthermore, the athletes' desire to return to sport as soon as possible could have introduced an acquiescence effect [49], potentially skewing the results with higher scores. This effect should be taken into account and controlled for in future research [50]. Future studies should aim to conduct Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) to validate the theoretical framework of the PRIA-RS questionnaire. Further research should also involve athletes from other contact sports beyond football, as the original questionnaire was developed using only football players. Additionally, it is essential for future studies to assess psychological readiness in female athletes to explore any potential gender differences in readiness and return-to-sport outcomes. Furthermore, future research should examine the impact of the injury severity on the responses provided in the PRIA-RS questionnaire. Incorporating the injury severity could yield valuable insights into whether athletes sustaining more severe injuries demonstrate distinct levels of psychological readiness in comparison to their counterparts with less severe injuries. Finally, we should investigate how external and internal factors such as pressure from coaches/teams and athlete motivation influence PRIA-RS results.