Return to sport criteria

This is a simple Ten-step rehabilitation program which includes return to play criteria for injured players. Advancing to the next level is allowed when the player completes the exercise without pain and swelling at the injured site. If the athlete experiences pain or swelling at a specific level of exercise he should return to the previous symptom-free level and resume the progress at a later session.

This common sense approach to your 'return to play' program is now validated to keep your athletes healthier longer. We all have seen an athlete return to play early and then a season ending re-injury follows. My hope is that we can help prevent this scenario from playing-out and keep our athletes on the fields and courts for the entire season.

The overall reduction of recurrent injuries was 66% in this study group vs. control. The benefit was realized most heavily in the first week of return to play where the re-injury reduction was 90% over the control group. This is a powerful study in that the criteria for return to sport are easily understood by the coaches, players and trainers. The criteria are also easily followed and monitored.

I recommend close communication between the coaches, trainers and physician as the outlined program may make the difference between an injured star athlete sitting out only a few weeks as opposed to the rest of the season.

If you have questions regarding this protocol or an injured athlete please do not hesitate to call. Once again, I am happy to field any questions you might have.

Dann Byck, MD

Office: (801) 387-2601 Cell: (801) 388-8016

1Hagglund, M et al. American Journal of Sports Medicine 35:1433-1442 (2007)