• June 30, 2026 | 4:05 PM - 5:00 PM
• PCC,108B

The Continuum of Care: Bridging the Gap Between Rehab and Return to Athletic Performance

Athletic Trainers are uniquely positioned to manage the full continuum of care, from injury rehabilitation to return to high-level performance. However, many feel less confident in late progressions involving performance readiness and sport-specific skills. This gap is especially evident in settings where ATs must serve dual roles without dedicated performance staff. This session presents an evidence-informed framework for guiding athletes through progressive return-to-performance phases, including tissue resiliency, movement quality, and specific physical benchmarks measured through objective assessments. Attendees will gain tools to optimize outcomes, reduce reinjury, and elevate their role in delivering holistic, performance-centered care across diverse athletic environments.

Learning Objectives - Develop a progression of return to sport performance from acute care to achieving higher athletic outputs post injury.
- Relate the proper progressive overload of tissue adaption through different phases of return to sport.
- Identify the most appropriate exercise selection throughout the RTP progression.
- Evaluate functional competencies pertaining to athletic skills that are prerequisites to safe return to sport.
- Appraise the physical readiness of athletes to advance through the stages of return to sport and then performance.

Keywords: Framework; CSCS; Benchmarks