Gamifying App-Based Low-Intensity Psychological Interventions to Prevent Sports Injuries in Young Athletes: A Review and Some Guidelines

Abstract

Sports injuries have become a real health concern. Particularly noticeable is the increasing number of severe sports injuries among young people. Sports injury (SI) is a multifactorial event where many internal and external, proximal and remote factors play a role in a recursive way, including physical and psychological variables. Accordingly, many voices expressing the need of tackling that and several prevention programs have arisen. Nevertheless, different barriers and limitations prevent a wide extension of well-controlled programs, closely monitored by highly specialized professionals in ordinary sports grass-root organizations. These have helped flourishing different low intensity (LI)-interventions and e-Health apps focusing on both physical warmup, training and fitness, and mental skills aimed at reducing athlete’s vulnerability to SIs. This kind of intervention usually uses self-administered techniques and/or non-specialized staff that can effectively monitoring the program. In fact, LI-interventions have shown to be effective coping with different health and psychological issues. However, these interventions face an important challenge: the lack of engagement people usually show. The current paper proposes how gamification can contribute to the engagement to such interventions. Based on the mechanics–dynamics–aesthetics framework to analyze game design, the paper suggests a set of guidelines app- and web-LI interventions aimed at preventing SIs should include to foster motivation and reduce attrition.

Comparison of the Effect of Video Games, Catalogs, and Face-to-face Training Regarding the FIFA +11 Warm-up Program on the Level of Acceptance and Belief of Soccer Players

“…Rubio and Olmedilla reviewed the impact of lowintensity psychological interventions in software-and web-based games on preventing injury in soccer players. They considered unwillingness and reluctance a critical challenge for people using this type of exercise [31].…”

Influence of Sports App Usage on the Exercise Adherence of University Students

“…Gao, X [12] analyzed the influences of mobile sports apps on the sports behaviors of university students and found that these apps can effectively facilitate various physical exercise behaviors. Rubio, V. J et al [13] concluded that sports injuries can be decreased effectively by developing a sports app that can provide accurate and scientific sports information to users. Balsalobre-Fernández, C et al [14] discovered that sports apps might have precious practical applications to coaches who want to measure the speed and power of users during bench press exercises.…”

Higher Sedentary Behaviors and Lower Levels of Specific Knowledge Are Risk Factors for Physical Activity-Related Injuries in Saudi Adolescents

“…Acute injuries occur suddenly as a result of a fall, attack on an opponent, or joint strain, while chronic injuries develop gradually over time due to overuse or misuse of a muscle or group of muscles. Sprains and dislocations are examples of acute injuries, while tennis elbow and stress fractures are common chronic injuries [8].…”