recommend that injured athletes should be encouraged to “see” and “feel” themselves
performing their sport skills fluently and effortlessly. This type of healing-oriented
imagery is common in applied sport medicine (Cupal, 1998). For example, in 2002 Jarrod
Cunningham, the former London Irish rugby player, was diagnosed with amyotrophic
lateral sclerosis (ALS)—a version of motor-neurone disease. One of the methods he used
to tackle this condition was imagery. In particular, he claimed that he tried to “visualise
sluggish electrons in the brain and spinal cord and to use mental imagery to inject energy
and power into them” (quoted in Gallagher, 2002, p. S5). Apart from mental practice,
physical relaxation techniques may also be useful in helping athletes to counteract
muscular tension experienced in the site of the injury.
In Box 9.5, a number of psychological techniques used in psychological interventions
with injured athletes are presented.
Box 9.5 Psychological techniques used in injury rehabilitation
programmesGoal-setting
Working backwards from the long-term goal of recovery from the injury and
participation in sport, a number of intermediate stepping-stones to full fitness
should be agreed with the athlete in question. In general, positively phrased short-term
goals are recommended to ensure optimal motivation for the daily rehabilitation schedule.
Constructive thinking
Injured athletes should be trained to acknowledge that although their injury is
unfortunate and frustrating, it can provide them with an opportunity to take “time out”
from their sport in order to rest, clarify their goals and “re-group” mentally.
Positive self-talk
Injured athletes can benefit from talking to themselves encouragingly using such
phrases as “I can work out a plan to deal with this problem” or “I’ve been through
situations like this before—this time is no different”,
Mental imagery
Injured athletes should be trained to “see” and “feel” their injured limbs performing
the skilled actions that they wish to regain.
Relaxation
Training injured athletes to breathe properly and to practise progressive muscular
relaxation can be useful in counteracting the stress of injury.
Social support
Injury rehabilitation can be a rather lonely enterprise. Therefore, it is important to help
athletes to identify people (e.g., friends, team-mates and family) who can provide support
and encouragement during the recovery process For example a fit teammate could
Helping athletes to cope with injury: from theory to practice 261