Elite Athletes’ Experiences During Injury Rehabilitation from a Biopsychosocial Perspective: An Exploratory Qualitative Study

Elite athletes experience diverse biological, psychological, and social challenges during injury rehabilitation, yet few qualitative studies have explored these experiences and their interactions from a biopsychosocial perspective. This exploratory qualitative study investigated the biopsychosocial experiences of elite athletes during injury rehabilitation and the interactions among these experiences through semi-structured interviews with five participants, using inductive content analysis. Athletes reported biological experiences including musculoskeletal symptoms, limitations in daily activities, adverse drug reactions, psychosomatic symptoms, and physical development; psychological experiences including negative emotions (anger, anxiety, and depression) and positive experiences (restoration and psychological resilience); and social experiences including informational, instrumental, and emotional support, as well as negative social influences such as blame and pressure to return to play. Participants perceived that these biological, psychological, and social experiences were closely interconnected throughout rehabilitation. Biological experiences, such as pain and physical impairment, were perceived to contribute to negative emotions, including anxiety, whereas negative emotions were associated with stress-related psychosomatic symptoms, such as gastrointestinal symptoms and headaches. Emotional support was associated with positive emotional experiences, whereas negative social influences, including blame and pressure to return to play, were associated with negative emotional responses. These findings contribute to an understanding of the multidimensional experiences of injured elite athletes and may inform development of integrated rehabilitation approaches that address biological, psychological, and social aspects of recovery.