Seven participants from a previous study (Jones, Hanton, & Connaughton, 2002) agreed to be interviewed about the development of mental toughness. We also aimed to determine whether mental toughness requires maintenance. Semistructured interviews were conducted to elicit the participants' perceptions of how mental toughness is cultivated and retained. Findings indicated that the development of mental toughness is a long-term process that encompasses a multitude of underlying mechanisms that operate in a combined, rather than independent, fashion. In general, these perceived underlying mechanisms related to many features associated with a motivational climate (e.g. enjoyment, mastery), various individuals (i.e. coaches, peers, parents, grandparents, siblings, senior athletes, sport psychologists, team-mates), experiences in and outside sport, psychological skills and strategies, and an insatiable desire and internalized motives to succeed. It was also reported that once mental toughness had been developed, three perceived underlying mechanisms were required to maintain this construct: a desire and motivation to succeed that was insatiable and internalized, a support network that included sporting and non-sporting personnel, and effective use of basic and advanced psychological skills. Practical implications and future avenues of research are discussed.

Findings highlighted biomechanical differences between limbs which are consistent across jump tasks suggesting insufficient rehabilitation at 9 months post surgery. Results indicate that the SLDJ may identify greater performance deficits between limbs than SLHD, which may over-estimate rehabilitation status.

research.stmarys.ac.uk/ TITLE Biomechanical but not timed performance asymmetries persist between limbs 9 months after ACL reconstruction during planned and unplanned change of direction AUTHOR King, Enda; Richter, Chris; Franklyn-Miller, Andy; et al.

Background: After anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR), athletes have demonstrated performance asymmetries as compared with healthy cohorts, but little research has investigated if biomechanical asymmetries are also different during jump and change-of-direction (CoD) tasks between groups. Purpose: To identify if differences in magnitude of asymmetry of biomechanical and performance variables exist between these groups. Study Design: Controlled laboratory study. Methods: Analysis was conducted between 156 male patients 9 months after surgery and 62 healthy participants. Three-dimensional motion capture and analysis were carried out on a double-legged drop jump, a single-legged drop jump, a single-legged hop for distance, and planned and unplanned CoD. Asymmetry between limbs was calculated for each variable with root mean square difference between limbs. Statistical parametric mapping was used to identify the between-group differences in magnitude of asymmetry of performance and biomechanical variables. Results: There were differences in asymmetry of biomechanical variables across all jump and CoD tests, with greater asymmetries in the ACLR group. The majority of differences between groups were in the sagittal and frontal planes, with more differences found in the jump than CoD tests. The single-legged drop jump demonstrated large differences in performance asymmetry (effect size, 0.94) with small differences for both CoD tests (0.4) and none for the single-legged hop for distance. Conclusion: This study demonstrated greater asymmetry of biomechanical variables 9 months after ACLR as compared with healthy participants across all tests, suggesting insufficient rehabilitation. Clinical Relevance: This study highlights the importance of including biomechanical as well as performance variables when assessing rehabilitation status after ACLR. Registration: NCT02771548 (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier).

The purpose of this study was to examine athlete experiences and understandings of psychological readiness to return to sport following a serious injury. A focus group and follow-up semistructured interviews were conducted with seven English athletes representing a variety of sports. Three key attributes of readiness were identified including: (a) confidence in returning to sport; (b) realistic expectations of one's sporting capabilities; and (c) motivation to regain previous performance standards. Numerous precursors such as trust in rehabilitation providers, accepting postinjury limitations, and feeling wanted by significant others were articulated. Results indicate that psychological readiness is a dynamic, psychosocial process comprised of three dimensions that increase athletes' perceived likelihood of a successful return to sport following injury. Findings are discussed in relation to previous research and practical implications are offered.