Fear, Anxiety, and Return to Sport After Cycling Crashes: A Survey of Cyclists

Dana H Kotler; Daniel M Cushman; Sarah Rice; Christopher Gilbert; Saurabha Bhatnagar; C Greg Robidoux; Mary Alexis Iaccarino

doi:10.1016/j.pmr.2021.08.008

Fear, Anxiety, and Return to Sport After Cycling Crashes: A Survey of Cyclists

Phys Med Rehabil Clin N Am. 2022 Feb;33(1):107-122. doi: 10.1016/j.pmr.2021.08.008. Epub 2021 Oct 22.

Authors

Dana H Kotler¹, Daniel M Cushman², Sarah Rice³, Christopher Gilbert⁴, Saurabha Bhatnagar⁵, C Greg Robidoux⁶, Mary Alexis Iaccarino⁷

Affiliations

¹ Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Spaulding Outpatient Center-Wellesley, Wellesley, MA, USA; Newton-Wellesley Hospital, Newton, MA, USA. Electronic address: dkotler@mgh.harvard.edu.
² Division of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Utah, 590 Wakara Way, Salt Lake City, UT 84108, USA.
³ Athletico Physical Therapy, Chicago, IL, USA.
⁴ Harvard University Extension, 51 Brattle Street, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA.
⁵ Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; US Department of Veterans Affairs, 1722 I St NW, Washington, DC, USA.
⁶ Spaulding Outpatient Center-Wellesley, Wellesley, MA, USA. Electronic address: https://twitter.com/thecyclingpt.
⁷ Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA. Electronic address: https://twitter.com/iaccarinomd.

PMID: 34798993
DOI: 10.1016/j.pmr.2021.08.008

Abstract

After cycling crashes, orthopedic and neurologic complaints are often the focus of evaluation and management. However, the trauma sustained may not be limited to physical injury; psychological issues brought on by or comorbid with the crash also warrant treatment. In this original research, we evaluated the presence of fear or anxiety after cycling crashes and examined factors associated with this mechanism of injury through a survey. Post-crash fear or anxiety was associated with female gender, a history of depression, and greater crash severity. Few cyclists received treatment and most returned to cycling at their previous level, but the timeline varied.

Keywords: Bicycle; Concussion; Injury; Psychological; Trauma.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Accidents, Traffic*
Anxiety / epidemiology
Bicycling
Fear
Female
Humans
Return to Sport*