"Your images lead your reality. They always have and always will." Terry Orlick


We all have heard
countless times how much we can achieve if we put our minds into it. Imagery
takes this past sentence to another level. According to J.M. Williams,
"Imagery is simply a mental technique that programs the mind and body to
respond optimally." (2010) Whether you are an Olympic athlete, a weekend
warrior, or not even practice any specific sport you will benefit of the many
qualities of imagery. Research have proved several times how much it can
improve the preformance of an athlete, the anxiety of an actress before going
out on stage, and many other situations that requires staying relaxed and
focus. Many elite athletes confess to utilize imagery as part of their training
program and to be a key factor of their success. So, how does it works? Can
anybody use it? Let's go ahead and learn more about this facinating method.

Friday, December 9, 2011

Imagery and injuries...

Imagery is being used in the medical field especially in the rehabilitation area. For injured athletes it has been incorporated as part of their therapeutic process and the positive results have been shown on several studies. The reason why imagery has been included in these type treatments has to do with the research indications of how the brain reacts to the stimulus that vivid visualization provokes (Jeannerod, 1994, in Williams, 2010). The role of imagery in sport rehabilitation is broad, it covers motivational aspects of the recovery, aids in the coping mechanism (accepting the injury/dealing with depression), is used as a tool for managing the pain, and other utilizations (Miller et. al.,2006 & Driediger et. al.,2007).
Sources:
MOLLY DRIEDIGER; CRAIG HALL1, & NICHOLA CALLOW. Imagery use by injured athletes: A qualitative analysis. Journal of Sports Science March 2006; 24(3): 261 – 271


Williams, J.M., Applied Sport Psychology, personal growth to peak performance, sixth edition 2010









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