How do I know when I am ready to return to sport after injury?
Readiness depends on healing, strength, movement, balance and safe sport-specific skills, not just elapsed time or absence of pain. The team sets a graded plan and injury-specific tests. Concussion requires a separate medically supervised return process.
Details
Progress from rehabilitation to training
Increase permitted activity, intensity and sport-specific skills before contact or competition. Monitor pain and swelling during activity and the following day. Do not use painkillers to pass readiness testing. Bracing or balance work may still be needed.
Head injuries are different
A suspected concussion means stopping play and no same-day return. Following assessment, return progresses through supervised stages with symptom monitoring and adequate time at each stage. This protocol cannot simply be applied to fractures or tendon injuries.
Reasons to delay
Instability, significant weakness, worsening pain or movement-limiting fear warrants reassessment. After head injury, deteriorating consciousness, repeated vomiting, worsening headache or neurological weakness needs emergency care. Rehabilitation aims for a safe, sustainable return.
Related reading: How can I reduce the risk of sports injuries during training?.