Athletes’ experiences of using a self-directed psychological support, the BAck iN the Game (BANG) smartphone application, during rehabilitation for return to sports following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction
Abstract Background Following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR), many athletes do not return to their sport, often driven by concerns about re-injury. Psychological support strategies might help, but are not routinely included in rehabilitation after ACLR. The BAck iN the Game (BANG)...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2023-09-01
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| Series: | BMC Sports Science, Medicine and Rehabilitation |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13102-023-00731-2 |
| _version_ | 1797451809567014912 |
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| author | Magnus Ringberg Ann Catrine Eldh Clare L Ardern Joanna Kvist |
| author_facet | Magnus Ringberg Ann Catrine Eldh Clare L Ardern Joanna Kvist |
| author_sort | Magnus Ringberg |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR), many athletes do not return to their sport, often driven by concerns about re-injury. Psychological support strategies might help, but are not routinely included in rehabilitation after ACLR. The BAck iN the Game (BANG) intervention is a 24-week eHealth program delivered via smartphone application (app), beginning directly after ACLR, with a self-directed approach that aims to target the specific challenges athletes encounter in rehabilitation. Aim To describe athletes’ experiences of using the BANG app during rehabilitation, to support returning to sport following ACLR. Method Participants were athletes, in contact and/or non-contact pivoting sports, who had ACLR with the goal to return to sports. Semi-structured, individual interviews were conducted 6–10 months after their ACLR; all had access to the BANG intervention. Verbatim transcripts were analysed with a qualitative content analysis. Results The 19 participants were 17–30 years, mean 21.6 years (SD 3.5); 7 men and 12 women. The analysis generated three main categories. (A) Interacting with the app illustrated how, when, or why the participants engaged with the app. The app was helpful because of its varying content, the notifications served as reminders and participants stopped using the app when no longer needing it. (B) Challenging experiences with the app illustrated that the app itself came with some difficulties e.g., content not appearing with the right timing and material not tailored to their sport. (C) Supportive experiences with the app reflected how the app facilitated the participants’ rehabilitation progress; it included positive aspects of the app content and navigation, boosting their confidence to return to sport, and motivated them to continue with rehabilitation. Conclusion The analysis of the interviews illustrates athletes’ awareness in interacting with, and the challenging and supportive experiences of using the app. The BANG app might provide support for returning to sport, primarily psychological support, as an adjunct to regular physiotherapy-guided rehabilitation. Athletes’ experiences of the BANG app could be improved by healthcare professionals providing additional advice about when to use which content and why. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03959215. Registered 22 May 2019. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T14:59:46Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-24983a44266e497b998e1d813142e1d7 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2052-1847 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T14:59:46Z |
| publishDate | 2023-09-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Sports Science, Medicine and Rehabilitation |
| spelling | doaj.art-24983a44266e497b998e1d813142e1d72023-11-26T13:57:53ZengBMCBMC Sports Science, Medicine and Rehabilitation2052-18472023-09-0115111010.1186/s13102-023-00731-2Athletes’ experiences of using a self-directed psychological support, the BAck iN the Game (BANG) smartphone application, during rehabilitation for return to sports following anterior cruciate ligament reconstructionMagnus Ringberg0Ann Catrine Eldh1Clare L Ardern2Joanna Kvist3Unit of Physiotheray, Department of Health, Medicine and Caring Science, Linköping UniversityDepartment of Public Health and Caring Sciences, Uppsala UniversityUnit of Physiotheray, Department of Health, Medicine and Caring Science, Linköping UniversityUnit of Physiotheray, Department of Health, Medicine and Caring Science, Linköping UniversityAbstract Background Following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR), many athletes do not return to their sport, often driven by concerns about re-injury. Psychological support strategies might help, but are not routinely included in rehabilitation after ACLR. The BAck iN the Game (BANG) intervention is a 24-week eHealth program delivered via smartphone application (app), beginning directly after ACLR, with a self-directed approach that aims to target the specific challenges athletes encounter in rehabilitation. Aim To describe athletes’ experiences of using the BANG app during rehabilitation, to support returning to sport following ACLR. Method Participants were athletes, in contact and/or non-contact pivoting sports, who had ACLR with the goal to return to sports. Semi-structured, individual interviews were conducted 6–10 months after their ACLR; all had access to the BANG intervention. Verbatim transcripts were analysed with a qualitative content analysis. Results The 19 participants were 17–30 years, mean 21.6 years (SD 3.5); 7 men and 12 women. The analysis generated three main categories. (A) Interacting with the app illustrated how, when, or why the participants engaged with the app. The app was helpful because of its varying content, the notifications served as reminders and participants stopped using the app when no longer needing it. (B) Challenging experiences with the app illustrated that the app itself came with some difficulties e.g., content not appearing with the right timing and material not tailored to their sport. (C) Supportive experiences with the app reflected how the app facilitated the participants’ rehabilitation progress; it included positive aspects of the app content and navigation, boosting their confidence to return to sport, and motivated them to continue with rehabilitation. Conclusion The analysis of the interviews illustrates athletes’ awareness in interacting with, and the challenging and supportive experiences of using the app. The BANG app might provide support for returning to sport, primarily psychological support, as an adjunct to regular physiotherapy-guided rehabilitation. Athletes’ experiences of the BANG app could be improved by healthcare professionals providing additional advice about when to use which content and why. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03959215. Registered 22 May 2019.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13102-023-00731-2Anterior cruciate ligament reconstructionAthleteseHealthMobile phonePsychological supportRehabilitation |
| spellingShingle | Magnus Ringberg Ann Catrine Eldh Clare L Ardern Joanna Kvist Athletes’ experiences of using a self-directed psychological support, the BAck iN the Game (BANG) smartphone application, during rehabilitation for return to sports following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction BMC Sports Science, Medicine and Rehabilitation Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction Athletes eHealth Mobile phone Psychological support Rehabilitation |
| title | Athletes’ experiences of using a self-directed psychological support, the BAck iN the Game (BANG) smartphone application, during rehabilitation for return to sports following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction |
| title_full | Athletes’ experiences of using a self-directed psychological support, the BAck iN the Game (BANG) smartphone application, during rehabilitation for return to sports following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction |
| title_fullStr | Athletes’ experiences of using a self-directed psychological support, the BAck iN the Game (BANG) smartphone application, during rehabilitation for return to sports following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction |
| title_full_unstemmed | Athletes’ experiences of using a self-directed psychological support, the BAck iN the Game (BANG) smartphone application, during rehabilitation for return to sports following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction |
| title_short | Athletes’ experiences of using a self-directed psychological support, the BAck iN the Game (BANG) smartphone application, during rehabilitation for return to sports following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction |
| title_sort | athletes experiences of using a self directed psychological support the back in the game bang smartphone application during rehabilitation for return to sports following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction |
| topic | Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction Athletes eHealth Mobile phone Psychological support Rehabilitation |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13102-023-00731-2 |
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