Pain in Competitive Athletes With Physical Disabilities and Techniques for Its Management

Pain in Competitive Athletes With Physical Disabilities and Techniques for Its Management

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).

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.

Inclusion Criteria:

For the athlete:

• Physical disability.
• Participate in high performance competition
• Aged between 15 and 55 years old;

For the sports agents:

• To exercise their profession with high performance athletes with physical disabilities

Exclusion Criteria:

• Not meeting the above requirements