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Purpose: This study examined the relationship between athletes’ imagery use, perceived pain, overall lower limb functioning, and satisfaction in the context of injury rehabilitation.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, eighty-three injured athletes receiving physiotherapy for a lower limb injury completed a questionnaire package containing the Athletic Injury Imagery Questionnaire-2 (AIIQ-2), the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) for pain, the Lower Extremity Functional Scale (LEFS), and questions concerning their use of imagery for pain management and satisfaction with rehabilitation. Main Findings: Based on their self-reported use of imagery to manage pain, athletes were divided into two groups: athletes who used imagery to manage pain (Pain Imagery Group; n= 35) and athletes who did not use imagery to manage pain (No Pain Imagery Group; n= 48). Athletes in the Pain Imagery Group did not differ in perceptions of pain or level of lower limb functioning compared to those in the No Pain Imagery Group (p>. 05). However, athletes in the Pain Imagery Group employed significantly more cognitive, motivational and healing imagery and expressed significantly greater satisfaction with their rehabilitation (p<. 05). Principal Conclusions: Athletes employ imagery for multiple purposes, such as pain management, outside training and competition settings. When athletes employ imagery for pain management they report increased satisfaction with their rehabilitation. Law B, Driediger M, Hall C, Forwell L (2006): Imagery use, perceived pain, limb functioning and satisfaction in athletic injury rehabilitation. New Zealand Journal of Physiotherapy 34 (1): 10-16.