Athletic Trainers’ Perceptions of Responsibilities and Use of Psychosocial Interventions for Patients Following an ACL Injury

Abstract

Following an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury, mental health challenges are often concomitant with the injury and rehabilitation process. Athletic trainers are essential components within the healthcare team who should be trained in recognizing, referring, and managing mental health issues. However, more research is needed on the athletic trainer's responsibility regarding psychosocial interventions and their role within ACL patients. Our descriptive study included 153 collegiate athletic trainers who reported on previous training and responsibilities related to mental health. Of these participants, 98% reported caring for an ACL patient within the last year. The participants were further asked to explore what behavioral responses were observed within ACL injury patients, the specific psychosocial interventions deployed, the frequency of integration, and whether a referral to another provider was utilized. We identified that athletic trainers share a strong understanding of their perceived roles, with 99.3% of participants stating the obligatory feeling to support ACL patients experiencing mental health challenges and implementing personalized rehabilitation (74%) and attainable goals (70%) while also keeping the athlete involved in the team (72%). Our data suggest that athletic trainers recognize their role and continue to integrate psychosocial strategies throughout the ACL injury process.