• Assessing specific anxieties related to re-injury during the rehabilitation process.
• Differentiating between anxiety during "Rehab" vs. anxiety during "Return to Competition."
• Identifying athletes who may benefit from psychological intervention to prevent "Fear-Avoidance" behaviors.

• Rehabilitation Anxiety: Concerns about the healing process, therapy effectiveness, and re-injury during exercises.
• Competition Anxiety: Concerns about the ability to perform, being hit/contact, and re-injury during actual play.

• 28 Items total (Original version).
• 4-point Likert scale (0 = Not at all, 3 = Very much so).
• Higher total scores indicate higher levels of re-injury anxiety.

A unique feature of the RIAI is its ability to track how anxiety shifts from the clinical setting (Rehab) to the field (Competition). An athlete may score low on Rehab anxiety but show a significant spike in Competition anxiety, indicating a need for "Psychological Skills Training" even if they are physically 100%.

• RIAI scores often peak during the "Initial Phase" of return to full training.
• High RIAI scores correlate with increased muscle tension and narrowed visual field, both of which are secondary physical risk factors for injury.
• Address high scores with "Exposure Drills" that mimic the high-risk movements the athlete fears most.

• High Rehab Anxiety: Simplify therapy goals, provide clear evidence of healing (e.g., ultrasound/strength charts).
• High Competition Anxiety: Gradual return to play, visualization, and positive self-talk protocols.
• Longitudinal Tracking: Evaluate every 2–4 weeks; anxiety should trend downward as functional markers improve.