Discharge and Return to Sport: Case Studies

Course overview

Can they return to play? When should they stop rehabilitation? These are simple questions that we get daily in our practice. Yet, while the questions are simple, the decisions and aftermath are not. Return-to-sport and discharge decisions have a lasting impact on each patient's life. These decisions require synthesizing numerous factors and considerations. The tests to perform, passing criteria, and performance of your patient all play a role in the final decision, but the process does not stop there. It is still not always black-and-white, and even when it is, communicating the findings to your patient is not easy. This course will utilize a case study approach to take you step by step through the return-to-sport process. We need to be confident when making the decision to return to sport, and we need to be able to give our patient that same confidence and understanding. This course will take the guesswork, uncertainty, and stress out of making the return-to-sport and discharge decision. This course is part of a four-course series and can be completed as an introduction or capstone to the other three courses. This course is for physical therapists, athletic trainers, and occupational therapists.