Psychological Applications in Clinical Sports Medicine: Current Status and Future Directions

This article describes the role of psychologists in clinical sports medicine. Following an overview of the specialty's professionals, settings, and modalities, opportunities for psychological intervention in the prevention and rehabilitation of sport injuries are examined. The current status of psychology in clinical sports medicine is discussed and recommendations for the future are provided. It is concluded that although the involvement of psychologists in clinical sports medicine is not currently extensive, there is reason to believe that psychological applications in the sports medicine arena will expand in the future.