The purpose of this thesis was to figure out the experiences on rehabilitation and returning to sport after an injury of young active athletes. The goal was to improve rehabilitation of young athletes, focusing also on the psychological and social aspects of rehabilitation rather than only the physical aspect.

Our thesis was commissioned by Turun Seudun Urheiluakatemia.

In our thesis we interviewed three athletes under eighteen years of age. We used theme-based interview and the interviews were recorded. We analyzed the interviews using data-based content analysis.

The information we got from our three informants shows that the mental support of the team and staying with the team are important factors in the rehabilitation and supporting the motivation of the injured athlete. In addition, the interviewees felt that the physiotherapist was one of the most important persons in the rehabilitation progress. However, the amount of physiotherapy sessions was deemed too low.