Don’t Just Return. Return Ready: Pain-free doesn’t mean game-ready.
When an athlete gets injured, one of the first questions they ask is, "When can I get back to playing?"
For athletes, the answer is usually "as soon as possible." For parents and coaches, the concern is often whether returning too soon could lead to another injury.
The reality is that being pain-free and being ready to compete are not always the same thing.
Many athletes recover from the initial injury before they have fully regained the strength, power, balance, endurance, and movement patterns required for their sport. Returning too early can increase the risk of re-injury and may impact performance long after the athlete is cleared to play.
As a Physical Therapist, one of my primary goals is helping athletes bridge the gap between rehabilitation and performance.
Physical Therapist Paige Johnson, P.T., D.P.T., C.S.C.S., recently earned her Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) certification through the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA). The CSCS credential is widely recognized as the gold standard for professionals who work with athletes and focuses on strength development, conditioning, athletic performance, and injury prevention.
So what does that mean for athletes, parents, and coaches?
It means your rehabilitation doesn't stop when the pain goes away.
A CSCS-certified therapist looks beyond healing the injury itself and evaluates whether an athlete is truly prepared for the demands of their sport. During treatment, athletes can expect progressive training that not only restores function but also prepares them for competition.
Depending on the athlete's age, sport, and injury, therapy may include:
- Strength and power development
- Agility and change-of-direction training
- Plyometric and jumping mechanics
- Sprinting and acceleration drills
- Endurance and conditioning progression
- Balance and neuromuscular control training
- Sport-specific movement analysis
- Return-to-sport testing and performance assessments
For example, an athlete recovering from an ACL injury may regain full knee motion and have little to no pain. However, they may still demonstrate weakness, poor landing mechanics, or asymmetries that increase their risk of another injury. Identifying and correcting those deficits is a critical part of the recovery process.
The same principle applies to shoulder injuries in baseball players, ankle injuries in soccer and basketball athletes, or overuse injuries in runners. Each sport places unique demands on the body, and rehabilitation should prepare athletes for those specific challenges.
One of the biggest advantages of working with a CSCS-certified Physical Therapist is having a therapist who understands both rehabilitation and sport performance. We can help athletes safely progress from medical recovery back into the workouts, practices, and training programs they will encounter once they return to their sport.
For parents and coaches, this can provide reassurance that return-to-play decisions are based on more than just time since injury. They are based on objective measures of strength, movement quality, performance, and readiness.
Because successful rehabilitation is about more than healing an injury. The goal isn't simply getting athletes back on the field, court, trail, or track. The goal is helping them return with confidence and tools to reduce their risk of getting hurt again.
At Flagstaff Bone & Joint, athletes have access to a comprehensive sports medicine team that includes orthopaedic Physicians, Physical Therapists, diagnostic imaging, and rehabilitation services that work together to help patients move through the recovery process. Flagstaff Bone and Joint offers a comprehensive campus to meet all the needs of our patients. Faster access. Fewer barriers. Care focused on you.
Paige Johnson, P.T., D.P.T., C.S.C.S. is a sports medicine Physical Therapist at Flagstaff Bone & Joint and an avid soccer player. She works with athletes of all ages and specializes in helping patients safely return to sport through evidence-based rehabilitation, performance training, and injury prevention strategies. For more information visit: www.flagstaffboneandjoint.com.