Does a sports medicine perform return-to-sport programme?

The team reviews your diagnosis, symptoms, mobility, strength, balance and sport-specific demands. Rehabilitation may begin with controlled exercises and advance to running, cutting, jumping, throwing or contact drills when appropriate. A physiotherapist may lead the sessions while the sports medicine doctor monitors healing, adjusts restrictions and works with other clinicians when surgery or imaging is involved. Progress is based on function and response to load, rather than on a calendar alone.

Bring details of the injury, previous treatment, current training and the position or events you play. Ask for clear milestones for practice, competition, protective equipment and rest. Follow the home exercises and report swelling, giving way, weakness or pain that lingers after training. Do not increase intensity suddenly simply because daily activities feel comfortable.

Arrange prompt assessment for a new injury with severe pain, visible deformity, inability to bear weight, sudden loss of strength, numbness or a cold or discoloured limb. During rehabilitation, contact the team if a joint repeatedly gives way, swelling keeps increasing, or a return-to-play drill causes sharp pain that does not settle with rest.

Which movements must I regain before training? Who will test my sport-specific readiness? How should I modify practice between appointments? What symptoms mean I should step back a stage?