The psychosocial aspects of a return to sport following serious injury: A review of the literature from a self-determination perspective

Objectives: The objective of this paper is to review the literature relevant to the psychosocial aspects of a return to sport following injury using a self-determination theoretical (SDT) framework.Methods: The literature was reviewed qualitatively. SDT was used to interpret and bring coherence to the diverse array of findings.Results: The review is divided into four main sections. In section one, two conceptual models—the biopsychosocial model and the stages of return to sport model—that have been used to describe the return to sport following injury are examined and critiqued. In light of the limitations of these two models, self-determination theory (SDT) is presented as a potentially useful framework for synthesising the extant literature and making suggestions for future research on return to sport after injury phenomena (section two). Analysis of the psychosocial sport injury literature within a self-determination framework (section 3) reveals the ways in which issues of competence, autonomy and relatedness may be salient during the return transition. In the fourth and final section, the implications of the findings are discussed and suggestions for future research are provided in line with self-determination theoretical contentions.Conclusions: SDT has potential for understanding findings in this area and for guiding future research. From an applied perspective, ensuring athletes’ needs for competence, autonomy and relatedness are met, may yield beneficial return-to-sport outcomes.