Guided Imagery
The guided imagery sessions on this website are specially designed for people recovering from ACL surgery. Research* has shown that people who use these guided imagery recordings recover from their surgery better, regain their strength faster, have less pain, and worry less about reinjuring their ACL.
*Cupal, D. D., & Brewer, B. W. (2001). Effects of relaxation and guided imagery on knee strength, reinjury anxiety, and pain following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. Rehabilitation Psychology, 46, 28-43.
Watch a brief video clip of an ACL graft through an arthroscope to enhance your experience of Session #4.
To get the most out of the guided imagery sessions, which can either be streamed from your computer or downloaded to your computer or portable listening device, use them in order from Session #1 through Session #8. The information and imagery progress along with you as your knee heals. Session #1 covers the first week after ACL surgery, Session #2 focuses on the next couple of weeks of early postoperative rehabilitation, and so on. If your knee is healing quickly, you can move on to the next session more rapidly than what is indicated in the schedule below. If your knee is healing slowly, take some extra time before you move on.
The idea is to match the guided imagery sessions to your rehabilitation progress. So if you have any doubt as to whether you are ready to advance from one session to the next, feel free to preview the next session in line to find out whether you are doing the activities described in the session.
The guided imagery sessions work best if you listen to them in a quiet place where you won’t be disturbed. A darkened, quiet room is ideal. Headphones are strongly recommended for listening to the sessions. People often describe the sessions as very relaxing. The sessions can even cause you to doze off, so be sure not to use them when you are driving.
Continue - Listen to Guided Imagery Sessions