Psychologically Informed Clinical Practice: Addressing Psychosocial Factors to Enhance Clinical Outcomes

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Abstract:
Psychologically informed clinical practice is a biopsychosocial approach to rehabilitation that integrates cognitive-behavioral techniques into traditional musculoskeletal rehabilitation. This approach to rehabilitation allows the clinician to address the physical and psychosocial impairments that result from musculoskeletal injury. Evidence suggests the integration of cognitive-behavioral techniques can improve clinical outcomes and enhance patient-centered care. Examples of these techniques include motivational interviewing, relaxation training, goal setting, and activity-based treatments, such as graded exposure therapy. Education and discussion on how to implement these techniques into traditional musculoskeletal rehabilitation will occur. Simulated examples of patient cases will also be reviewed and discussed.

Objectives:

  • Participants will be able to explain psychologically informed clinical practice., 
  • Participants will be able to discuss cognitive behavioral techniques to decrease psychosocial impairments after musculoskeletal injury., 
  • Participants will be able to implement relaxation training techniques into athletic training clinical practice.

Level:
Advanced

Domains:
Domain 4: Therapeutic Intervention

CEUs:
1.0 Category A

Keywords: cognitive-behavioral, musculoskeletal, rehabilitation, injury, biopsychosocial, psychosocial impairments

On-Demand (Enhanced Access) Course Expiration:
Courses registered for after February 5, 2025, must be completed by December 31, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. CST.
For full details, refer to the expiration policy on our FAQ page.

Shelby Baez, PhD, ATC

Shelby Baez, Ph.D., ATC, is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Exercise and Sport Science and the Director of the Psychology of Sport Injury Laboratory at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Dr. Baez is a certified and licensed athletic trainer with an expertise in psychology of sport injury. 

Dr. Baez’s research examines the impact of psychosocial factors on health outcomes after sport-related injury, with a focus on patients with traumatic knee injuries. Her lab examines the impact of psychosocial factors on biological outcomes, such as neurocognitive function, biomechanical alterations, and secondary injury risk. Her lab also seeks to identify clinically feasible and novel psychosocial interventions to improve health outcomes. These techniques range from graded exposure therapies to virtual reality mindfulness meditation. 

Dr. Baez has been funded by the National Institutes of Health and other regional and national foundations to support her work. She was the recipient of the Association for Applied Sport Psychology Doctoral Dissertation Award in 2020, the recipient of the American College of Sports Medicine New Investigator Award in 2023, and the recipient of the National Athletic Trainers’ Association New Investigator Award in 2024.

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