The Effect of Guided Imagery on Knee Muscles Strength Injured in Male Athletes

Background & Guided imagery is a psychosomatic treatment that uses narratives and storiesas effectivetools on mental images and patterns. Guided imagery is a complementary therapy which may be administered by a physician throughsound or video recording. The purpose of this study is to determine the effect of guided imagery on functional rehabilitation of knees injured in male athletes. Eighteen athletes with knee injuries were randomly divided into experimental (N= 9) and control (N= 9) groups. Experimental and control group athletes after anteriorcruciate ligament or meniscus surgery were gradually brought into the research. In addition to physiotherapy exercises، subjects in experimental group received daily guided imagery exercises for a duration of 4 weeks. Maximum strength of extensor and flexor muscles of knees was measured in pre and post tests by Biodex (system 3). Data was analyzed using ANCOVA. Results of this study showed that muscles strength increased in the injured and noninjured knees of experimental group (20. 53% & 18 % respectively)، but for the control group no significant decline was observed (0. 55% & 4. 44% respectively) (P>0. 05). For injured and non-injured knees، muscle strength increased in flexor muscles in both groups، but these differences were not significant (P>0. 05). It can be concluded that guided imagery accompanied by physiotherapy can increases muscles strength in injured athletes; therefore، guided imagery training would be suggested as an appropriate modality for injured athletes.