Abstract
Healing imagery can be defined as both visualizing affirmative images of internal physiological healing occurring in an injured area and visualizing oneself as healthy and fully functioning (Driediger, Hall, & Callow, 2006). Healing imagery has been found to effectively reduce the time of recovery from various athletic injuries when used in combination with other mental skills, such as self-talk and relaxation (Ievleva & Orlick, 1991). However, the literature remains void of a study that specifically examines healing imagery and the potential benefits that may accompany the regular application of healing imagery techniques alone. This study examined the effects of an imagery intervention on the recovery of athletes experiencing an athletic injury in comparison to a control group who did not receive the imagery manipulation. The purpose of the present study was to determine the effectiveness of a healing imagery intervention through comparing the two groups on: satisfaction with rehabilitation, self-efficacy to recover, and recovery time. The sample consisted of 13 injured varsity athletes (intervention group, n=6; control group, n=7) utilizing the athletic therapy services at Wilfrid Laurier University. A significant interaction effect was found for satisfaction with rehabilitation, as athletes' in the intervention group increased in satisfaction from week 2 to 3 while the control group decreased in satisfaction during the same time period. The intervention group also used significantly more cognitive imagery than the control group. Both groups were found to be significantly higher in task self-efficacy than coping self-efficacy during injury rehabilitation. A follow-up qualitative analysis of the intervention group revealed that the healing imagery intervention positively affected athletes' in a unique, individualized manner. Results are discussed with respect to a gained understanding of imagery effects, study limitations, and future directions.
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