Psychological Rehabilitation From Anterior Cruciate Ligament–Medial Collateral Ligament Reconstructive Surgery

A Case Study

McArdle, Siobhain PhD

From Dublin City University, Dublin, Ireland

Address correspondence to Siobhain McArdle, PhD, School of Health and Human Performance, Dublin City University, Dublin, 9, Ireland (e-mail: [email protected]).

No potential conflict of interest declared.

Sports Health: A Multidisciplinary Approach 2(1):p 73-77, January/February 2010. | DOI: 10.1177/1941738109357173

Background:

Research has shown that some of the more common psychological responses to injury (ie, depression, anger, anxiety) are amplified in cases of traumatic injury.

Hypothesis/Purpose:

An 18-year-old male scholarship soccer player who, owing to a perceived deliberate injurious tackle by an opposition player, tore the medial collateral ligament and anterior cruciate ligament of his right knee. A psychological case perspective is presented.

Study Design:

Retrospective case report.

Results:

Various personal and situational factors can compound negative psychological response to injury. A number of extreme responses are explored, including posttraumatic stress, depression, and fear of reinjury.

Conclusions:

Practitioners should be willing and able to facilitate referral in the instance of more extreme psychological response to anterior cruciate ligament injury.