Mental preparation for the 2014 Winter Paralympic Games.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this review is to describe how Paralympians can prepare for the 2014 Paralympic Games through mental skill use.


METHODS
A search of adapted physical activity, sport psychology, and disability-specific journals was conducted along with electronic databases (eg, ArticleFirst) using the terms sport psychology, Olympics, Paralympics, psychological and mental preparation and skills, imagery, visualization, self-talk, anxiety, confidence, and performance enhancement. Reference lists from relevant articles were then used to continue the search. No constraining dates were used.


RESULTS
A review of the results from both qualitative and quantitative research on Paralympians, Olympians, and elite-level athletes suggests that mental preparation and mental skill development can help Paralympians enhance their performances.


CONCLUSIONS
Sport psychologists can help Paralympians develop mental skills to manage the unique stressors of the Paralympics to increase the odds of having superior performances.
Division of Kinesiology, Health and Sport Studies, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan 48202, USA. aa3975@wayne.edu
Jeffrey
J
Martin
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D054874:Athletic Performance / Q000523:psychology*; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D010806:Physical Education and Training; D011214:Practice, Psychological; D013177:Sports / Q000523:psychology*