EFFECT OF PROGRESSIVE RELAXATION AND POSITIVE SELF-TALK TECHNIQUES ON COPING WITH PAIN FROM SPORTS INJURIES AMONG STUDENTS OF UNIVERSITY OF LAGOS, NIGERIA

This study worked on the effect of progressive relaxation and positive self-talk techniques in coping with pain from sports injuries among University of Lagos student-athletes. The study provides psychological intervention using education as a safe, non-drug method to enable injured athletes overcome fear of re-injury. Two hundred (200) student-athletes volunteers were used as participants for this study. Random sampling technique was used to select the participants into experimental and control groups-Groups A and B. Group A. Participants were given progressive relaxation and positive self-talk as psychological therapies while Group B members were denied these psychological therapies An ex-post factor and pre test-post test research design was adopted for the study. The research was able to reveal that athletes are in dire need of pain management education especially in the rehabilitation of injured athletes.