Handouts

Breathing —Develop breathing skills to be able to match the necessary arousal for the situation.

Breathing can be introduced as early in rehab as comfortable with the athlete and rehab professional. However, the earlier introduced, the more habitual and greater benefits by the end of rehab and return to sport.

Imagery—This infographic provides some tips to have the best experience when utilizing imagery.

This should be used when introducing imagery so athletes can understand how they can best use imagery.

Progressive Muscle Relaxation—PMR can be used to recognize stress and tension in our body and can be developed to be able to relax muscles on command.

By virtue of the progression, the earlier PMR is practiced, the more effective an athlete will be at noticing tension when return to play comes.

Worksheets

Individualized Zone of Optimal Function—When understanding how best to control emotions and arousal, knowing the zone of optimal function will benefit and can be used in rehab to get patients hyped or relaxed for therapy sessions.

IZOF can be introduced at any point during rehab. Although, it is best to have them experience a few rehab sessions before introducing so they know what energy level will be appropriate for them.

Build your own imagery script—Layering imagery and building the script one sense at a time can help to build imagery skills and practice.

This worksheet is a really effective way to have them build their own imagery scripts. Imagery is beneficial throughout the rehab process, although healing imagery is most effective during phase 1 (reaction to injury).

Circle of Control—Knowing what is within your control and how you can use it gives an advantage to athletes that use it to control their environment.

Experiencing an injury could cause an athlete to feel as though they have lost control of their body. As athletes begin to feel more in control, using this worksheet to help them see all the other ways they are in control can improve outcomes and attitudes.

Imagery Scripts

Healing Imagery—This script can be used in the beginning of rehab, to become more comfortable with imagery and with increasing recovery early on in rehab.

Confidence-Ankle—This script is specific for an ankle injury in a golfer, but the template can be used to develop a more personal script.

Day of Injury—In order to help individuals move past their injury, having them imagine the moments leading up to their injury, but without obtaining the injury can help them move past the fear of certain movements or situations.