Background-Despite massage being widely used by athletes, little scientific evidence exists to confirm the eYcacy of massage for promoting both physiological and psychological recovery after exercise and massage eVects on performance. Aim-To investigate the eVect of massage on perceived recovery and blood lactate removal, and also to examine massage eVects on repeated boxing performance. Methods-Eight amateur boxers completed two performances on a boxing ergometer on two occasions in a counterbalanced design. Boxers initially completed performance 1, after which they received a massage or passive rest intervention. Each boxer then gave perceived recovery ratings before completing a second performance, which was a repeated simulation of the first. Heart rates and blood lactate and glucose levels were also assessed before, during, and after all performances. Results-A repeated measures analysis of variance showed no significant group diVerences for either performance, although a main eVect was found showing a decrement in punching force from performance 1 to performance 2 (p<0.05). A Wilcoxon matched pairs test showed that the massage intervention significantly increased perceptions of recovery (p<0.01) compared with the passive rest intervention. A doubly multivariate multiple analysis of variance showed no diVerences in blood lactate or glucose following massage or passive rest interventions, although the blood lactate concentration after the second performance was significantly higher following massage (p<0.05). Conclusions-These findings provide some support for the psychological benefits of massage, but raise questions about the benefit of massage for physiological restoration and repeated sports performance. (Br J Sports Med 2000;34:109-115)

Background: Although research into the psychological aspects of sports injury is increasing and psychological interventions have been identified as important in the rehabilitation process, few studies have focused on how sports medicine practitioners deal with psychological problems. Objective: To investigate the perceptions of English chartered physiotherapists on the psychological content of their practice. Methods: The Physiotherapist and Sport Psychology Questionnaire (PSPQ) was adapted slightly from the Athletic Trainer and Sport Psychology Questionnaire and used in this study. A survey package comprising a PSPQ, introductory letter, and self addressed envelope was mailed to 179 chartered physiotherapists registered in the England Eastern Region Sports Medicine Directory. Results: In total, 90 (50% response rate) questionnaires were returned. The sample consisted of 67 women and 23 men with a mean (SD) age of 40.1 (5.4) years and 9.2 (3.1) years of experience as chartered physiotherapists. Descriptive statistical and qualitative analysis showed that physiotherapists believed athletes were often psychologically affected by injury. The physiotherapists also reported often using psychological techniques when treating injured athletes, but few reported having access to a sport psychologist for referral. Conclusions: This research indicates that future physiotherapy education may need more emphasis on the psychological aspect of injury, and seek to increase knowledge on the potential of using psychological interventions within a physiotherapy rehabilitation programme. Furthermore, some form of referral network should be established between chartered physiotherapists and sport psychologists.

Context: Research from the sport medicine professional's (SMP's) perspective indicates that SMPs are often required to address psychosocial aspects of injuries during treatment. However, only a few authors have investigated injured athletes' experiences with these concerns. Objective: To explore injured professional athletes' views on the role of SMPs in the psychosocial aspects of sport-injury rehabilitation. Design Qualitative study. Setting: Professional association football and rugby union clubs. Patients or Other Participants: Ten professional, male football (n = 4; 40%) and rugby union (n = 6; 60%) players (age = 22.4 ± 3.4 years). Data Collection and Analysis We collected data using a semistructured interview guide, and the data were then transcribed and analyzed following the interpretative phenomenological analysis guidelines. We peer reviewed and triangulated the established emergent themes to establish trustworthiness. Results: Athletes in our study viewed injuries as “part and parcel” of their sports. Despite normalizing sport injuries, athletes reported frequent feelings of frustration and self-doubt throughout the rehabilitation process. However, athletes' perceived the role of SMPs in injury rehabilitation as addressing physical concerns; any intervention aimed at psychosocial outcomes (eg, motivation, confidence) needed to be subtle and indirect. Conclusions: The SMPs working with injured athletes need to understand the psychosocial principles that underpin athletes' sport-injury processes and the effect psychosocial reactions can have on athletes. Moreover, SMPs must understand the self-regulatory processes that may take place throughout injury rehabilitation and be able to apply psychological principles in natural and subtle ways to aid athletes' self-regulatory abilities.

Results suggest that UK physiotherapists possess practical experiences and good awareness for psychological aspects of injuries and acknowledge the importance of treating a range of psychological conditions.

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This study explored perceptions regarding the experience of flow in elite golf; a sport which is different to those studied previously due to its self-paced, stop-start nature. In-depth, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 10 European Tour golfers. Whereas the majority of previous studies have deductively coded data into Csikszentmihalyi's dimensions, the data in this study were analysed inductively. Thirteen categories were generated which described the flow experiences of these golfers, and these were compared with the original flow dimensions after analysis. In contrast to previous understanding, these golfers reported being aware that they were in flow as it occurred, and seemingly were able to manage their flow experiences. A category describing altered cognitive and kinaesthetic perceptions was also generated which was not accounted for in the existing flow framework, while the participants also suggested that flow was observable (e.g. through changes in behaviour). Findings are discussed in relation to the existing literature, and recommendations made for future research including possible revisions to the flow framework to better describe this experience within golf and other sporting contexts. An Inductive Exploration into the Flow Experiences of European Tour Golfers 1 Abstract 2This study explored perceptions regarding the experience of flow (Csikszentmihalyi 3 1975) in elite golf; a sport which is different to those studied previously due to its self-4 paced, stop-start nature. In-depth, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 10 5 European Tour golfers. Whereas the majority of previous studies have deductively 6 coded data into Csikszentmihalyi's dimensions, the data in this study were analysed 7 inductively. Thirteen categories were generated which described the flow experiences 8 of these golfers, and these were compared to the original flow dimensions after 9analysis. In contrast to previous understanding, these golfers reported being aware that 10 they were in flow as it occurred, and seemingly were able to manage their flow 11 experiences. A category describing altered cognitive and kinaesthetic perceptions was 12 also generated which was not accounted for in the existing flow framework, while the 13 participants also suggested that flow was observable (e.g., through changes in 14 behaviour). Findings are discussed in relation to existing literature, and 15 recommendations made for future research including possible revisions to the flow 16 framework to better describe this experience within golf and other sporting contexts. 17 18

Very little research has investigated differences in imagery use between open-and closed-skill sports. The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of competitive level (elite/novice) and skill-type (open/closed) on athletes' imagery use. A total of 83 British athletes (39 elite, 44 novice) from open-(n = 40: 23 rugby; 17 martial arts) and closed-skill (n = 43: 28 golf; 15 figure skating) sports completed the Sport Imagery Questionnaire no more than 24 hours prior to competition. MANOVA revealed that main effects due to competitive level and skill-type were significant ( p < .05). Univariate analyses revealed that elite athletes used more CS and CG imagery than novices ( p < .001), and contrary to previous research findings, athletes in open-skilled sports used more MG-A imagery than those in closed-skill sports ( p < .001). Overall, MG-M was the most used imagery type, regardless of competitive level and skill-type. The results are discussed in terms of methodological difficulties, future research, and practical implications.Mental imagery has been recognized as an important tool in improving athletic performance (Hall, 2001). Many of the world's highest-level athletes report using imagery in the hope of improving their routines and they have attributed at least some of their success to mental imagery (Hardy, Jones, & Gould, 1996). Furthermore, Hardy et al. noted that imagining perfect executions of a particular skill might very well augment the activation of relevant motor programs needed for that particular skill. Paivio (1985) proposed an analytical framework describing the functions of imagery, through which the problem of when and why imagery works could be addressed. He suggested that mental imagery might influence behavior on a general or a specific level through both cognitive (e.g., skill and strategy rehearsal) and motivational (e.g., self-confidence, arousal, goal-setting) mechanisms. Drawing from Paivio's work and other existing literature on imagery, Hall, Mack, Paivio, and Hausenblas (1998) conducted a series of investigations and concluded that imagery serves five main functions: (a) cognitive specific (CS; e.g., specific sport skills), (b) cognitive general (CG; e.g., strategies related to a competitive event), (c) motivational specific (MS; e.g., specific goals and goal-oriented behavior), (d) motivational general-arousal

This study employed interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) to explore the lived experiences of eight high performing adolescent golfers who had all successfully travelled the path from novice to elite level status.By means of semi-structured qualitative interviews, participants answered questions centred on four key areas which explored their journey from preelite to elite adolescent status: initial involvement and continued participation in golf, the meaning of golf, golf environment and social support. Two super-ordinate themes emerged from participants accounts:Early Pre-Elite Sporting Experiences and Strategic Approaches to Develop Adolescent Golfing Excellence. The study provides key insights into individual, social and environmental factors that enabled pre-elite adolescent golfers to make a successful transition to the elite pathway, and highlights plausible factors that may make a difference whether an athlete becomes elite or not. The findings will help coaches, policy makers and sport psychologists more effectively support emerging talent in golf.