September 2025 Newsletter
Return to Play Testing: Why Objective Measures Matter
Thank you to Lloyd Beckett, PT, DPT, SCS for contributing this month!
For athletes, few moments are more exciting and nerve wracking than the decision to return to play after an injury. The desire to get back to competition is strong, but rushing the process can increase the risk of reinjury, potentially leading to longer setbacks or chronic issues. That is where Return to Play (RTP) testing comes in: a structured, evidence based approach to ensure athletes are not just feeling ready, but truly ready.
Time Alone Is Not Enough
Historically, many return to sport decisions have been made based on time frames such as “six months post-op” or “once the pain subsides.” While time is important for healing, it does not tell the whole story. Every athlete heals differently, and every sport places unique demands on the body.
Instead of relying only on the calendar, RTP testing combines time with evidence based benchmarks. This means the decision is based not just on how long it has been since the injury, but also on whether the athlete has regained the necessary strength, power, and movement quality to compete safely.
Objective Testing: Taking Guesswork Out of the Equation
If your PT is not accurately assessing your readiness, how can they accurately decide when you should return? Too often, athletes are cleared to play without truly meeting the physical requirements of their sport. This underutilized approach contributes not only to heightened reinjury rates but also to decreased performance, since many athletes return without the strength, stability, or confidence to compete at their best.
At Dirigo Physical Therapy & Performance, we take a different route. We use objective measures and evidence based standards to guide the decision making process. Some of the tools and methods we use include:
Dynamometry: Measuring quad strength is essential after knee injuries or surgery. With handheld and fixed dynamometry, we can compare side to side strength and ensure athletes have regained adequate muscle force before progressing.
Force Plates: These allow us to measure ground reaction forces, jump symmetry, landing mechanics, and power output. Small deficits that are invisible to the eye become clear, helping us address weaknesses before they lead to reinjury.
Hop Testing: Single leg hop, triple hop, crossover hop, and timed hop tests provide insight into limb symmetry, control, and explosiveness.
Agility and Movement Testing: Sport demands more than just straight line strength. We use cutting, change of direction, and acceleration or deceleration drills to evaluate readiness in game-like movements.
Dynavision: This interactive light board trains and measures visual motor reaction time, peripheral awareness, and cognitive processing speed; all key factors in reducing injury risk and improving performance.
Each of these assessments provides data points that can be compared to evidence based benchmarks and the athlete’s own baseline when available.
Progression That Matches Your Sport
Testing is only part of the process. We customize each athlete’s rehab to progress toward game loads and mimic the demands of their individual sport. A basketball player needs explosive jumping and cutting; a soccer player needs sustained sprinting and rapid changes of direction; a hockey player must be able to absorb contact while skating at high speed. Our rehab programs are designed to bridge the gap from clinic to competition, ensuring athletes are not only cleared but truly prepared for the realities of their sport.
The Dirigo Difference
Return to play testing is still underutilized in many rehab and sports settings. Athletes are often cleared without being tested under objective standards. This creates risk, not only for reinjury but also for lost confidence, reduced performance, and prolonged frustration.
At Dirigo PTP, we believe athletes deserve better. By combining technology, evidence based protocols, and individualized decision making, we give athletes the clearest possible picture of where they are and what they need to do to safely return to their sport.
Our process does more than protect athletes; it empowers them. Knowing you have proven yourself ready builds confidence and allows you to step back onto the field, court, or rink with less hesitation and more focus on performance.
Final Takeaway
Return to play testing bridges the gap between rehab and full sport participation. It ensures that athletes return not just because the calendar says they should, but because they have demonstrated the strength, control, and resilience required to compete. Without objective testing, clearance decisions are guesswork. With it, athletes can return stronger, safer, and more prepared than before.
If you are recovering from an injury or surgery and want to minimize the risk of reinjury, ask yourself: Has my PT tested me, or just told me I am ready?
