Imagery use by injured athletes: A qualitative analysis

Abstract The purpose of this study was to expand our knowledge and increase our understanding of imagery use by athletes in sport-injury rehabilitation using a qualitative approach. The participants were 10 injured athletes who were receiving physiotherapy at the time they were interviewed. During the interviews, the athletes provided extensive information about their use of imagery during injury rehabilitation and it was clear that they believed imagery served cognitive, motivational and healing purposes in effectively rehabilitating an injury. Cognitive imagery was used to learn and properly perform the rehabilitation exercises. They employed motivational imagery for goal setting (e.g. imagined being fully recovered) and to enhance mental toughness, help maintain concentration and foster a positive attitude. Imagery was used to manage pain. The methods they employed for controlling pain included using imagery to practise dealing with expected pain, using imagery as a distraction, imagining the pain dispersing, and using imagery to block the pain. With respect to what they imaged (i.e. the content of their imagery), they employed both visual and kinaesthetic imagery and their images tended to be positive and accurate. It was concluded that the implementation of imagery alongside physical rehabilitation should enhance the rehabilitation experience and, therefore, facilitate the recovery rates of injured athletes. Moreover, it was recommended that those responsible for the treatment of injured athletes (e.g. medical doctors, physiotherapists) should understand the benefits of imagery in athletic injury rehabilitation, since it is these practitioners who are in the best position to encourage injured athletes to use imagery.

[1]  S. Murphy,et al.  The effects of positive and negative imagery on motor skill performance , 1985, Cognitive Therapy and Research.

[2]  Declan Connaughton,et al.  Perceived Control of Anxiety and its Relationship to Self-Confidence and Performance , 2002, Research quarterly for exercise and sport.

[3]  D. Degood,et al.  Interactive Effects of the Affect Quality and Directional Focus of Mental Imagery on Pain Analgesia , 2001, Applied psychophysiology and biofeedback.

[4]  S. Page,et al.  A randomized efficacy and feasibility study of imagery in acute stroke , 2001, Clinical rehabilitation.

[5]  C. Hall,et al.  The Use of Imagery by Athletes During Injury Rehabilitation , 2000 .

[6]  Peter R. Giacobbi,et al.  The Four Ws of Imagery Use: Where, When, Why, and What , 2000 .

[7]  L. Hardy,et al.  Intervention strategies with injured athletes: an action research study. , 2000 .

[8]  M. Andersen,et al.  Physiotherapists' and male professional athletes' views on psychological skills for rehabilitation. , 2000, Journal of science and medicine in sport.

[9]  Kathleen A. Martin,et al.  Imagery Use in Sport: A Literature Review and Applied Model , 1999 .

[10]  Sheldon Hanton,et al.  The Acquisition and Development of Cognitive Skills and Strategies: I. Making the Butterflies Fly in Formation , 1999 .

[11]  D. Cupal.  Psychological interventions in sport injury prevention and rehabilitation , 1998 .

[12]  S. Gordon,et al.  Toward a psychoeducational curriculum for training sport-injury rehabilitation personnel , 1998 .

[13]  Allan Paivio,et al.  Imagery use by athletes: development of the Sport Imagery Questionnaire. , 1998 .

[14]  Mike Fisher.  Qualitative Computing: Using Software for Qualitative Data Analysis , 1997 .

[15]  M. Gregerson,et al.  Absorption and imagery locate immune responses in the body , 1996, Biofeedback and self-regulation.

[16]  L. Hardy,et al.  Use of different imagery perspectives on the learning and performance of different motor skills. , 1995, British journal of psychology.

[17]  Eben A. Weitzman,et al.  Computer Programs for Qualitative Data Analysis: A Software Sourcebook , 1995 .

[18]  Albert J. Petitpas,et al.  Perceptions of Psychological Interventions in the Context of Sport Injury Rehabilitation , 1994 .

[19]  Ian Haslam,et al.  The use of imagery by soccer players , 1994 .

[20]  D. Gould,et al.  Coping strategies used by U.S. Olympic wrestlers. , 1993, Research quarterly for exercise and sport.

[21]  L. Green.  The Use of Imagery in the Rehabilitation of Injured Athletes , 1992 .

[22]  Craig R. Hall,et al.  The use of imagery by rowers. , 1992 .

[23]  M. Patton,et al.  Qualitative evaluation and research methods , 1992 .

[24]  C. Hall,et al.  The effect of an imagery training program on imagery ability, imagery use, and figure skating performance , 1991 .

[25]  T. Orlick,et al.  Mental Links to Enhanced Healing: An Exploratory Study , 1991 .

[26]  Renata Tesch,et al.  Qualitative research : analysis types and software tools , 1990 .

[27]  R. Tesch.  Qualitative Research: Analysis Types and Software , 1990 .

[28]  S. Vines.  The therapeutics of guided imagery. , 1988, Holistic nursing practice.

[29]  Linda S. Lotto.  Qualitative Data Analysis: A Sourcebook of New Methods , 1986 .

[30]  M. Denis.  Visual imagery and the use of mental practice in the development of motor skills. , 1985, Canadian journal of applied sport sciences. Journal canadien des sciences appliquees au sport.

[31]  A. Paivio.  Cognitive and motivational functions of imagery in human performance. , 1985, Canadian journal of applied sport sciences. Journal canadien des sciences appliquees au sport.

[32]  W. Hays.  Introduction to Qualitative Research Methods: The Search for Meanings. 2nd ed. , 1985 .

[33]  Steven J. Taylor.  Introduction to qualitative research methods : the search for meanings / by Steven J. Taylor, Robert Bogdan , 1984 .

[34]  Steven J. Taylor.  Introduction to qualitative research methods , 1975 .

[35]  G. Powell.  Negative and Positive Mental Practice in Motor Skill Acquisition , 1973, Perceptual and motor skills.