Social support
When addressing psychological readiness during the recovery process, rehabilitation facilities should encourage confidence-building and provide social support to the athletes. Developing confidence in returning to sport includes “having trust in the rehabilitation provider, satisfaction of social support needs, and achievement of physical standards/clinical outcomes.” Social support can operate as a buffer for the amount of anxiety and stress associated with an injury by positively affecting the athlete’s psychological and emotional wellbeing. In turn, this support can improve the athlete’s motivation and coping skills during the rehabilitation process. In addition, research suggests that emotional social support, which prioritizes “empathy, love, trust, and caring” can benefit injured athletes psychologically as they recover. With greater emphasis on the psyche, athletes will be more motivated to envision their injury recovery as a new competition or task, rather than a roadblock that hinders them from achieving their dreams.