ATC Psychology of Injury 5

Question 1

Which factor is MOST strongly associated with an athlete's successful psychological return to sport after ACL reconstruction?

Accepted Answer

High return-to-sport self-efficacy and low fear of re-injury

Answer

Psychological readiness—specifically high confidence and low fear of re-injury—is one of the strongest predictors of successful and lasting return to sport.

Question 2

An AT notices an athlete has lost significant weight, is exercising through pain, and denies any problems when asked. The AT should FIRST:

Accepted Answer

Document observations and consult with team physician and mental health staff

Answer

Observable signs of disordered eating or overtraining warrant documentation and a multidisciplinary consultation rather than dismissal or unilateral action.

Question 3

Pain catastrophizing in injured athletes is BEST addressed through which intervention?

Accepted Answer

Cognitive restructuring and psychological skills training

Answer

Cognitive restructuring helps athletes identify and challenge catastrophic thoughts, replacing them with more accurate and adaptive appraisals of pain.

Question 4

Which of the following BEST describes the concept of emotional contagion in a sports medicine context?

Accepted Answer

An AT's negative attitude about an athlete's prognosis influencing the athlete's recovery mindset

Answer

Emotional contagion occurs when one person's emotional state (e.g., an AT's pessimism) unconsciously influences another's mood and outlook.

Question 5

The ACSI-28 (Athletic Coping Skills Inventory) is used in athletic training to assess:

Accepted Answer

Psychological coping skills relevant to sport performance and injury

Answer

The ACSI-28 measures psychological coping skills such as coping with adversity, goal setting, and concentration, which are relevant to injury rehabilitation.

(ATC) Certified Athletic Trainer Practice Test

(ATC) Certified Athletic Trainer Practice Test

ATC Psychology of Injury 5