The hardest part about being injured is the waiting. You want to get better quickly so you try to do everything your healthcare team tells you. You live and breathe rehab because your ultimate goal is to play sports again (meaning as soon as possible!). “When will I be ready” is the question that’s on your mind every day.
Healing takes time. A lot of time. There isn’t some magical point in the recovery process where you are suddenly healed and ready to get back out there. There are so many variables associated with healing and even if you do everything right there is no guarantee that your recovery will follow some arbitrary timeline someone made up because it sounded good. You must be patient, even when you don’t want to be.
When you get to the point in your recovery process that your healthcare team starts discussing the topic of return to sport how will you know if you are ready? That’s where Return to Sport (RTS) testing comes in. RTS testing allows athletes to assess their readiness in a controlled environment while identifying any movement impairments, strength deficits, and imbalances that increase the risk for re-injury.
What does Return to Sport testing involve?
The testing process is usually quite lengthy and involves a variety of musculoskeletal and psychological assessments designed to ensure that the athlete is not only physically, but mentally, ready to return to sport. The evaluation typically includes the following:
Review of past medical history, including any previous injuries/surgeries
Review of current health status with a focus on the current issue
Musculoskeletal exam to assess pain, range of motion, strength, and function
Movement assessments to identify musculoskeletal imbalances and movement impairments
Sport specific assessments/tests
Do I really need Return to Sport testing if my doctor and/or physical therapist already cleared me?
Yes. The harsh reality is that your doctor is often basing their decision on general guidelines involving how long it’s been since surgery and whether or not you still have pain. They may do a quick exam to look at your strength and ROM, but in my experience, physicians do not have the time or capability to perform the type of testing needed to determine readiness for return to sport. The same is true for traditional physical therapy clinics. Your PT may be more thorough than your physician, but because insurance companies place restrictions on care, the testing you receive is rarely as comprehensive as it needs to be. In addition, many PT’s base their decision on outdated, generalized guidelines that don’t take into account the requirements of your specific sport.
When should Return to Sport testing be performed?
RTS testing can be performed any time you want to ensure that you are ready to get back out there and perform at a high level. It can also be useful before starting a new sport, as every sport has different physical requirements. RTS testing is extremely important, dare I say crucial, after:
Suffering a significant injury
Following orthopedic surgery
After any prolonged break in sport, even if it wasn’t due to injury or surgery
While RTS testing is extremely useful and can provide a great deal of information, it shouldn’t be used in isolation. It is just one component of a broader program and should be used in conjunction with other means of monitoring and measuring progress.
Take Home Message
Return to Sport testing is a great way to assess your readiness for return to sport but it doesn’t take the place of a structured rehabilitation program. The recovery process can be long and difficult, but patience will pay off. Don’t let frustration drive you to jumping back into activity too soon. Instead, use this time to get even better than you were before you got injured.
Interested in scheduling your Return to Sport Evaluation? Contact the clinic at (252) 222-0424 or send us an email at info@eliterehabandperformance. You can also click the button below.
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