title: A qualitative study on overuse injuries: the beliefs of athletes and coaches.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Preventive approaches for overuse injuries in sports will be more successful when synchronised with athletes' and coaches' beliefs. We interviewed athletes and coaches in order to better characterize their beliefs about the definition of an overuse injury, as well as the intrinsic and extrinsic risk factors that underlie overuse injuries.
  
  
  METHODS
  Qualitative study using in-depth interviews in athletes and coaches of different sports.
  
  
  METHODS
  Athletes who had experienced overuse injuries and coaches who trained athletes who had sustained overuse injuries from sports clubs were invited to participate through interview. We explored each participant's individual definition of an overuse injury and the beliefs concerning the intrinsic and extrinsic risk factors concerning overuse injuries were explored.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After nine athletes and nine coaches, sample size saturation was confirmed. Athletes and coaches integrate somatic as well as psychological and sociological factors into the definition of and risk factors for overuse injuries. Intrinsic factors for an overuse injury were related to physical factors, technique, psychological factors and heredity. The extrinsic factors were related to situational, social and training factors, as well as the individual coach.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Athletes and coaches have a holistic view on the definition of overuse injuries, and the intrinsic and extrinsic risk factors for overuse injuries. If preventive approaches for overuse injuries are developed and implemented, they should incorporate physical factors, as well as incorporate psychological and social factors. Based on the input of coaches and athletes, the latter are important risk factors for overuse injuries.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Human Movement Sciences, University Medical Centre Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands. c.p.van.wilgen@sport.umcg.nl
authors.forename: C P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: van Wilgen
authors.forename: E A L M
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Verhagen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D012090:Cumulative Trauma Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D036301:Qualitative Research; D055815:Young Adult