ABSTRACT
In an age where sport is a business, and winning and losing impact on much more than just pride, there are normally a number of inputs to the decision making process that determine when an athlete should return to competition. Many of the inputs to an athlete’s rehabilitation (rehab) programme are welcomed ones and normally come from the immediate support team. While not exhaustive, the key personnel may often include medical and surgical specialists, sports physicians, physiotherapists, soft tissue therapists, athletic trainers, strength and conditioning (S&C) coaches and the technical coaches. The appropriate synergy of these views and inputs, along with the athlete’s own thoughts and feelings, makes a significant contribution to the success of the rehabilitation/reconditioning process.
