Mental Imagery

Paper Summary:

The paper researches the extent that imagery enhances the rehabilitation process, as well as the mechanisms involved in the effectiveness of imagery as a supplement to treatment. The paper examines three underlying theoretical frameworks that form a basis for the understanding of the relationship between the use of mental imagery and rehabilitation: the psychoneuromuscular theory, the symbolic learning theory and the bioinformational theory. The paper also discusses imagery techniques that maximize the effectiveness of mental imagery. The paper concludes that mental imagery has the potential to play a beneficial role in the rehabilitative process with different populations, including injured athletes and stroke patients.

Outline:
Theoretical Frameworks
Measurement Issues Involved in Imagery and the Rehabilitation Process
Strategies for the Enhancement of Rehabilitation Using Mental Imagery
Concluding Comments

From the Paper:

"Evidence has indicated that imagery improves rehabilitation. Newsom et al. (2003) investigated this phenomenon through the assessment of whether the use of mental imagery of gripping results in the prevention of loss of grip strength that is associated with forearm mobilization. Thirteen female and five male students between the ages of 17 and 30 were randomly assigned to two groups. Both the groups experienced immobilization of their non-dominate forearm for ten days. The control group received no intervention, while the treatment group underwent three short mental imagery sessions each day. The treatment group imagined that they were squeezing a rubber ball. After the ten days, there was no significant change in the wrist flexion or wrist extension among the treatment group that used mental imagery techniques. The control group, however, demonstrated a significant decrease in wrist mobility and strength during the immobilization period. These findings indicate that mental imagery has potential utility for the prevention of strength and mobility loss associated with short-term muscle immobilization."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Dijkerman, H., Letswaart, M., Johnston, M., MacWalter, R. (2004). Does motor imagery training improve hand function in chronic stroke patients? A pilot study. Clinical Rehabilitation, 18, 538-49.
• Driediger, M., Hall, C., Callow, N. (2006). Imagery use by injured athletes: A qualitative analysis. Journal of Sports Sciences, 24(3), 261-71,
• Milne, M., Hall, C., Forwell, L. (2005). Self-efficacy, imagery use, and adherence to rehabilitation by injured athletes. Journal of Sport Rehabilitation, 14, 150-67.
• Morganti, F., Gaggioli, A., Castelnuovo, G., Bulla, D., Vettorello, M., Riva, G. (2003). The use of technology-supported mental imagery in neurological rehabilitation: A research protocol. CyberPsychology & Behavior, 6, 421-7.
• Newsom, J., Knight, P., Balnave, R. (2003). Use of mental imagery to limit strength loss after immobilization. Journal of Sport Rehabilitation, 12, 249-58.

More papers on Mental Imagery:

• Research Paper # 110654 : "Mental Imagery Abilities in the Blind"
• Term Paper # 120100 : "Mental Imagery"
• Comparison Essay # 67030 : "The Nature of Mental Imagery"

APA Citation:

MLA Citation: