Table 1.
Injury-specific load planning considerations and strength/power diagnostics for phase progression during return to sport (RTS)
| Injury | Considerations for RTS load planning | Strength/power diagnostics |
| Hamstring injuries | Progression of running speeds (>70% maximal speed) Progression of acceleration/deceleration magnitudes (intensity) Appropriate stage to combine sprint distance and chaos |
Iso posterior chain/hamstring PF, RFD, SE (FP) Ecc hamstring PF (NHE) Con/ecc hamstring PT (IKD) |
| Quadriceps injuries | Progression of acceleration frequency and magnitudes (explosive distance) Progression of running speeds (>70% maximal speed) Progression of change of direction angles (45°–180°) Progression of technical actions—passing, shooting, jumping/landing actions |
Iso squat PF, RFD (FP) Iso quadriceps PF (HHD) Dyn split squat force/impulse asymmetries (FP) Con/ecc quadriceps PT (IKD) |
| Calf injuries | Progression of running volumes (total distance, HSR, sprint distance) Progression of running speeds (>70% maximal speed) Progression of acceleration/deceleration frequency and magnitudes (explosive distance) |
Iso soleus/gastrocnemius PF, RFD (FP) SL/DL CMJ jump height, force/power/impulse and asymmetries (FP) 10–5 hop test RSI, force/impulse asymmetries (FP) |
| Adductor injuries | Progression of acceleration/deceleration frequency and magnitudes (explosive distance) Progression of change of direction (45°–180°) Progression of technical actions—passing, crossing, shooting, tackling Appropriate stage to combine change of direction, at speed, under chaotic conditions |
Iso hip abductor/adductor; PF (GroinBar) |
| Ankle injuries | Progression of running volumes (total distance, HSR, sprint distance) Progression of change of direction (45°–180°) Progression of acceleration/deceleration frequency and magnitudes (explosive distance) Appropriate stage to combine change of direction, at speed, under chaotic conditions Progression of technical actions—jumping/landing actions |
Iso soleus/gastrocnemius PF, RFD, SE (FP) DL CMJ ecc, con, landing force/impulse asymmetries (FP) 10–5 hop test RSI, force/impulse asymmetries (FP) Hop+hold dynamic stability (FP) |
| ACL injuries | Progression of running volumes (total distance, HSR, sprint distance) Appropriate weekly planning between sessions in early stages Progression of acceleration/deceleration frequency and magnitudes Appropriate stage to add chaotic conditions to HSR and change of direction |
DL CMJ ecc, con, landing force/impulse asymmetries (FP) SL CMJ jump height, power, impulse asymmetries DL/SL drop jump RSI (FP) Iso squat/mid-thigh pull PF, RFD (FP) Iso soleus/gastrocnemius PF, RFD (FP) Iso posterior chain PF, RFD, SE (FP) Ecc hamstring PF (NHE) 10–5 hop test (FP) Iso hip abductor/adductor PF (GroinBar) |
| Fractures (injury mechanism specific, ie, stress or trauma) | Progression of running volumes (total distance, HSR, sprint distance)—novel ‘load’ Appropriate weekly planning between sessions in early stages Progression of technical actions—passing, shooting, jump/landing actions Progression of tackling/volume of tackles (mid-shaft tibia/fibula) |
CMJ ecc, con, landing force/impulse asymmetries (SL, DL) (FP) Iso squat/mid-thigh pull PF, RFD (FP) Iso soleus/gastrocnemius PF, RFD (FP) Iso posterior chain PF, RFD (FP) Ecc hamstring PF (NHE) 10–5 hop test (FP) DL/SL drop jump RSI (FP) Iso hip abductor/adductor PF (GroinBar) |
Novel ‘load’, new/unusual load, providing a novel stimulus for bone remodelling.
ACL, anterior cruciate ligament; CMJ, countermovement jump; COD, change of direction; con, concentric; DL, double Leg; DJ, drop jump; Dyn, dynamic; ecc, eccentric; FP, force platform; HHD, hand-held dynamometer; HSR, high-speed running (>5.5 ms−1); IKD, isokinetic dynamometer; iso, isometric; NHE, Nordic hamstring exercise; PF, peak force; PT, peak torque; RFD, rate of force development; RSI, Reactive Strength Index; SE, strength endurance; SL, single leg.