What criteria should be met before returning to sport after an injury?

Doctor’s answer

Return-to-sport decisions should assess pain and swelling, range of motion, strength, balance, endurance, psychological readiness, and the quality of sport-specific movement. Time is only one consideration. Athletes should complete graded training and monitor the response afterward; standardised functional tests can support decisions in higher-risk sports.

This content is for education. Diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation require an individual assessment by a sports medicine specialist.