Rehabbing an injury? The end of pain the end of rehab.
Too many athletes stop physical therapy once they feel “okay.” But that’s exactly when they’re most vulnerable to reinjury.
At Scottsdale Physical Therapy & Performance, we specialize in Return-to-Sport (RTS) protocols — using objective testing, movement analysis, and phased reloading to help athletes get back to competition stronger and smarter than before.
Why RTS Is More Than “Feeling Ready”
Pain relief is step 1. But returning to sport requires:
- Full strength and symmetry
- Restored power and control
- Confidence in high-speed, high-load movements
You’re not ready to sprint, cut, pivot, or explode until you’ve passed all physiological and functional benchmarks.
Our Return-to-Sport Process
We don’t wing it. We use a clear, research-backed progression to guide athletes through:
1. Baseline Performance Testing
- Force plate asymmetry
- Isokinetic or handheld strength testing
- Movement quality screen (e.g. single-leg hop, triple hop, Y-Balance)
2. Controlled Load Reintegration
- Low-impact drills (tempo running, controlled change of direction)
- Blood flow restriction (BFR) to build tolerance while protecting tissue
3. High-Speed Movement Training
- Reactive drills
- Plyometric progressions
- Sport-specific deceleration and acceleration
4. Field or Court-Based Readiness
- Rehearsal of sport-specific scenarios
- Load monitoring and fatigue testing
- Athlete-reported readiness and return confidence
What Sets Our RTS Process Apart?
Scottsdale is full of athletes — but very few rehab clinics have a true performance-minded RTS protocol. We offer:
- Testing equipment used by pro and college programs
- Therapists trained in biomechanics and sport science
- An integrated approach with your coach or strength staff
We help bridge the gap between pain-free and game-ready.
Don’t Just Return. Return Confident.
We don’t clear athletes based on pain or time — we use data, function, and movement resilience.
If you’ve had an ACL tear, rotator cuff repair, ankle sprain, or chronic overuse injury — we’ll help you not only come back, but come back better.
