A return to sport program is an integral part of a physical therapy program that helps you return to your higher-level, sports-specific goals. Here at LSTC, once you have progressed past basic strengthening, are pain free, and no longer need hands-on treatment, you will transition into the return to sport program. You will work with certified athletic trainers to assess your sports goals and get you back to play!
What does the program consist of?
- Functional movements: complex and skilled movements that directly relate to your sport
- Examples: jump squats for basketball players, wall sprints for runners
- Agility: exercises aimed at improving your speed, reactiveness, and power needed within your sport
- Examples: agility ladder, reaction drills, skaters
- Sports drills: Drills and exercises done to test your readiness to return 100% to your sport of choice!
- Examples: box drills, single leg hop test, throwing programs
Why is it important?
Without a return-to-sport program, many athletes return to 100% play before they are truly ready, which leads to re-injury and further issues down the line. Unfortunately, being pain free and having full strength isn’t the only thing you need to return to full activity. After an injury, your body needs to learn how to respond to the stress that your sport provides with proper form. The program helps you integrate everything you learned along the way in physical therapy and incorporate it into the complex and powerful movements that your sport requires. If you train your body to respond the correct way under stress, you are less likely to be reinjured in the future.
If you are looking to return to sport safely, call LSTC today at 703-450-4300!
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