University-going high performance athletes' perceptions of psychological strategies recommended by high performance physiotherapists for return-to-play readiness.

Abstract

Traditionally, assessments of athletes’ readiness to return-to-play (RTP) have focused primarily on physical recovery, often neglecting the equally critical component of psychological readiness. Although physiotherapists are increasingly incorporating psychological strategies into rehabilitation, limited research explores how athletes perceive and engage with these interventions, particularly within university high performance settings. This study explores university-going high performance athletes’ perceptions of psychological strategies recommended by physiotherapists during RTP rehabilitation. A qualitative, exploratory design was employed which was conducted at the University of the Western Cape. Six focus groups comprising 25 purposively selected elite student-athletes across six sports were held. Guided by the Mental Health Promotion Framework, thematic analysis revealed four themes: motivational factors, psychological barriers, external rehabilitation strategies, and personal coping methods. While athletes valued psychological support, inconsistent application and limited collaboration were noted. Ethical approval was obtained, and trustworthiness was ensured through credibility, dependability, confirmability, and transferability. The study advocates for interdisciplinary, athlete-centred RTP approaches that embed psychological readiness into rehabilitation.