Scheduled for Symposium: Psychological Rehabilitation for Athletes Recovering From Serious Injury, Thursday, April 10, 2008, 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM, Convention Center: 202D


Facilitating Psychological Recovery: Introduction and Application of SCRAPE in Sportsmedicine

Christopher J. Hinderliter, University of Detroit Mercy, Detroit, MI and Bradley J. Cardinal, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR

Treating the physical and psychological aspects of an injury during the rehabilitation phase of recovery is paramount to ensure that when the athlete does return to the field of play that he/she is both physically and mentally ready. Unfortunately, most sports medicine professionals have limited backgrounds in psychological training with the exception of a general psychology or occasional sport psychology course. Because of this lack of training or familiarity, the sports medicine practitioner may not be comfortable addressing the psychological needs of the athlete, and these psychological needs are therefore not fully attended to during the rehabilitation process. When these needs are not met the patient's willingness to comply with the rehabilitation program may decrease, and the athlete may develop other psychological issues (e.g., depression, anxiety). It is with these unsatisfied needs and the resulting potential psychological issues in mind that the SCRAPE approach materialized. SCRAPE is an original acronym that represents six concepts that may be used to facilitate the psychological rehabilitation and recovery from physical injury process. SCRAPE was developed through a review and cataloging of relevant literature in the area of psychological recovery from injury, as well as personal experiences working with injured athletes. SCRAPE stands for: Social Support, Confidence and Competence, Refer, Accommodate, Psychological skills, and Educate. Social support refers to providing a network of people that can assist the injured athlete with the emotional recovery from an injury. Confidence and competence can positively influence the recovery process and they are hypothesized to improve the overall rehabilitation outcome. Referral relates to understanding one's own limitations as a medical professional. Accommodating means to adjust to what a person needs in order to facilitate recovery, which may not necessarily be what the injured person wants (e.g., wants a massage, needs an ice pack). Psychological skills are techniques such as imagery, relaxation and goal setting that can have a positive influence on rehabilitation effectiveness and overall results. Educating the athlete on aspects of the rehabilitation process such as the injury, typical recovery time, limitations and therapeutic approach may help the athlete become a more active participant in the recovery process, which should reinforce the other dimensions of the SCRAPE approach. In conclusion, the SCRAPE approach can be used as an important reminder of how to systematically address the psychological needs surrounding an athlete's injury (much like the RICE mnemonic). Practical strategies for implementing the SCRAPE approach will be introduced.
Keyword(s): athletic training, medical/medical care, safety/injury prevention

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