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Cited by 39Sport Psychology and PerformancePsychological Treatments and AssessmentsAnxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes

Keeping your head in the game: sport-specific imagery and anxiety among injured athletes

Open access
Monsma, Eva, Mensch, James, Farroll, Jennifer·2009·Journal of Athletic Training
DOI 10.4085/1062-6050-44.4.410PMC PMC2707070
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Abstract

CONTEXT: The use of sport-specific imagery during rehabilitation is sparse. Athletes who used imagery (either facilitative or debilitative) during injury rehabilitation were compared with injured athletes who did not use imagery. Return-to-practice anxiety in the groups was investigated also. OBJECTIVE: To (1) explore debilitative images used during rehabilitation, (2) examine athlete and injury characteristics in relation to variations in imagery content and return-to-practice anxiety, (3) compare the frequency of imagery use early in injury rehabilitation with that just before return to practice, and (4) examine the relationship between image use and return-to-practice anxiety. DESIGN: Observational design. SETTING: Athletic training facilities. PATIENTS OR OTHER PARTICIPANTS: Thirty-six injured National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I collegiate athletes sustaining at least an 8-day practice suspension due to injury. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Sport Imagery Questionnaire, Sport Anxiety Scale. RESULTS: Athletes used both facilitative and debilitative images during different phases of rehabilitation. Men used more sport skill, strategy, and excitement imagery content than did women, who reported higher scores for worry and concentration disruption than did men. Athletes used fewer images related to their sport skills and strategies early in rehabilitation than just before they returned to practice. Additionally, athletes who used more arousal and less strategic imagery experienced more somatic anxiety. CONCLUSIONS: Similar to research findings on healthy athletes, sport-specific image content in injured athletes is related to return-to-practice anxiety during rehabilitation, and some of the images were perceived as debilitative. Practitioners should advise injured athletes to use sport-specific imagery, especially that related to sport skills and strategies, but they should caution athletes against using arousal imagery, because it may elevate somatic anxiety before return to practice. Image content recommendations should encompass the cognitive and motivational functions of imagery, and the practitioner should assess if any image used by the athlete is debilitative.

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  • The practice of imagining or visualizing an experience without physically completing the task increases the ability to mentally prepare by imagining successful completion.

    “The practice of imagining or visualizing an experience without physically completing the task increases the ability to mentally prepare by imagining successful completion.53”

    From Effectiveness of psychological intervention following sport injury (2012) · cites this paper as [53]

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Authors
Monsma, E., Mensch, J., & Farroll, J.
Affiliations
University of South Carolina (US)
Corresponding author
Mensch, James
ORCID
Monsma, Eva
Venue
Journal of Athletic Training
Publisher
National Athletic Trainers' Association
Published
2009-07
Volume
44
Issue
4
Pages
410-417
ISSN
1062-6050 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.4085/1062-6050-44.4.410
PMC
PMC2707070
OpenAlex
W2078659408
Cited by
39
References
25
Citations by year
2026: 1 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 1 · 2021: 1 · 2020: 3 · 2019: 3 · 2018: 1 · 2016: 3 · 2015: 2 · 2014: 7 · 2013: 4 · 2012: 2
FWCI
3.51
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Journal of Athletic Training (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Sport Psychology and Performance
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychological Treatments and Assessments
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
Keywords
mental imagery, injury rehabilitation, somatic anxiety, collegiate athletes, sex differences
MeSH terms
Adaptation, Psychological, Adolescent, Adult, Anxiety, Athletic Injuries, Attention, Female, Humans, Male, Psychometrics, Surveys and Questionnaires, Sports Medicine, Stress, Psychological, Imagery, Psychotherapy, Young Adult

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