Perceived social support in the rehabilitation process among elite female handball players

The complexity which characterizes elite-level handball imposes great demands on the player to practice varied skills and presents a high training load, consequently increasing the risk of overtraining and injuries. The purpose of this study was to investigate injured elite female handball players who had returned to active play at the elite level, assessing their perception and experience of social support in the rehabilitation process. Nine elite female players in the Norwegian Elite League (Rema-1000 league) who had suffered an injury that restricted their sport participation for a mean recovery period of 46 weeks were interviewed. The findings show that each of the groups (coach, physiotherapists, teammates, and family and friends) provided different types of social support, yet they were all considered crucial for optimal rehabilitation. In various ways, the support the players received helped them feel part of the team, motivated, and optimally challenged to develop as handball players and to feel safe and cared for during the rehabilitation process. Based on the results, we argue that coaches should be aware of the positive consequences of sufficient social support during the rehabilitation process.