Are you Ready to Return to Sport?
Will you be able to perform at your desired level, and at a reduced risk of injury? End-stage return to sport testing helps to answer these questions by assessing key physical and psychological risk factors relevant to your circumstances. Ultimately, they help to identify whether there is a mismatch between what your body can tolerate and the demands of the activity you wish to expose it to.The following blog explores several key criteria that your physiotherapist may consider as you approach the later stages of your recovery.
Functional Testing
This involves an assessment of how well the body moves under conditions similar to what would be expected in your sport/activity. For a court-based athlete recovering from a lower limb injury, this may involve a series of jumping tests that evaluate single leg power and change of direction ability.
For a contact-sport athlete recovering from an upper limb injury this may involve a push-up endurance test or power-oriented hop test. In either case, your results can be compared with your opposite side and normative data to determine whether your performance is conducive to sporting participation.
Running
Many land-based sports have a running component to them, however the nature of it can vary considerably between them. Field-based athletes such as rugby and soccer players are exposed to long periods of activity, interspersed with episodes of high-speed running.
Facilitating a safe and effective return to this sport therefore requires adequate performance in a test that mimics these demands, such as the 30-15 intermittent fitness test. For a netball player, tests that prioritise change of direction ability and brisk acceleration/deceleration movements in confined spaces – such as the Illinois agility test – may provide a better insight into whether they are ready to perform on the court.
Throwing
A consistent, successful throw requires an efficient transfer of force through the body – from legs to trunk to shoulder to arm – and the ability to tolerate these demands without undue fatigue. This requires a professional review of your technique, as well as structured increases in the number and distance of throws you perform.
If this is not carried out appropriately, then the ability of the body to tolerate the amount of load it is exposed to will be inadequate, leading to an increased risk of reinjury. Much like returning to running, you don’t start out trying to complete a marathon!
Patient Reported Outcome Measures
An individual’s self-reported function is a well-documented predictor of whether they will return to sport at their desired level and with a reduced risk of reinjury. A range of standardised, research-based questionnaires have been established. These can be used to measure a person’s confidence in their ability to perform, fear of movement, pain intensity and impact of the condition on day-to-day life.
When combined with tests that assess physical function, this ensures that a holistic approach is used to facilitate an effective return to sport.
Key Take Aways
End-stage rehab testing is critical for determining whether you are fit to return to sport at your desired level and with a reduced risk of injury. Physical and psychological readiness should be assessed through a range of functional and sport-specific tests, as well as self-reported questionnaires that explore confidence and fear of movement.