Imagine that! Elite athletes perspectives on healing imagery use during injury rehabilitation: A qualitative study
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Authors
Hamel, Katherine B.
Issue Date
2012
Type
Thesis
Language
en
Keywords
Alternative Title
Abstract
Description
Many studies have researched the effectiveness of the use of imagery in combination with other sport psychology techniques specifically in injured athletes. The purpose of this study was to explore the perspectives of elite athletes on the use of healing imagery during their injury rehabilitation. It was hoped that the finding would provide the field of sport psychology with insight on the best way to use imagery for elite athletes. Four injured elite athletes (three collegiate soccer players, one professional Judo athlete of eight years) described their experience with healing imagery over six weeks. Each participant's injury had different recovery lengths and were in different stages of their injury recovery. The constant was that they all had at least six weeks left of rehabilitation. During the six weeks the athletes listened to a recorded healing imagery script twice a week, journaling about the experience after each time they listened to the healing imagery script. A short interview was conducted at the conclusion of their participation of six weeks to gather information on their experience as a whole. Content analysis was used to analyze the transcribed interviews and journal entries. One hundred eighty seven raw data themes emerged and were organized into 16 higher order themes, and three general dimensions. Out of the three General Dimensions found, "positive feedback of the experience," from the participants was the most prominent as it had the greatest number of raw data and higher order themes. The other two general dimensions are "constructive feedback" and "logistical feedback". Future directions, limitations, and applications are presented.