In addition to testing for sport clearance, we also challenge our patients within the clinic with sport specific training to ensure that they are exposed to similar demands as on-field play.

At Avant, we utilize an extensive battery of both lower body and upper body Return to Sport testing that ensures you are both physically and psychologically ready to play again. These examine power production, dynamic stabilization, limb control and biomechanics with deceleration and landing, and your capacity with change of direction, maneuverability and agility.

We rely on an evidence-based cluster of tests to help determine your readiness. These clusters of tests have been shown in research to give us the most accurate information collectively about your ability to return to play. For most of these tests, we compare your right and left sides to get your Limb Symmetry Index (LSI), which we use to determine how much of a difference there is between your legs and/or arms. The goal is to have 90% or > LSI…aka <10% difference between your injured side and non-injured side. This number has been shown to be protective and reduces your risk for future injuries. 

Here is an example of some of the lower body tests we take our athletes through. This would be applicable to anyone who has suffered a lower extremity injury and needs to return to sports such as soccer, basketball, volleyball, lacrosse, football, gymnastics, tennis, dance and skiing. 

The Tests

• Maximal isometric strength using a hand-held dynamometer
• Tests of your endurance including:
  • Single leg sit to stand test
  • Single leg bridge test
  • Single leg heel raise 
• Tests of your power, agility and capacity with hop tests including
  • Single, triple and crossover hop for distance
  • 6 m timed hop
  • Single leg vertical jump
  • Side hop test 
• Tests of dynamic balance with the Y Balance Test (YBT)
• Tests assessing your lower extremity landing mechanics including:
  • Landing Error Scoring System (LESS) 
  • Tuck jumps 
• Tests of agility, maneuverability, and change of direction for the lower body including:
  • Hexagon test 
  • T-test 
• Functional outcome scoring taken throughout the course of your injury rehab. You can think of these tests a little like a multiple choice exam (no stress required though). The outcomes of the test help us to determine your current level of ability and how your ability has changed over time in PT. Furthermore, they help us to continue to treat you from an Evidence Based model of care. Examples include the following:
  • KOOS
  • ACL RSI

We also have an entire set of upper body specific tests that we take our overhead athletes through to clear them to return to sport. (ie: baseball/softball, swimming, rock climbing, tennis, volleyball, acrobatics). 

At Avant, we consider Return to Sport testing to be crucial for all injured athletes wanting to return to their sport. If you are an injured athlete or have been injured in the past and did not go through proper return to sport clearance testing, give us a call!