Return to Play—Transitioning from Rehabilitation to Strength and Conditioning with the Football Athlete
by Adrian Terrell Dixon, DPT, ATC, CSCS and Taylor Q Porter, MS, CSCS
NSCA Coach
February 2019
Vol 4, Issue 5
Due to the high contact and intensity of football, injuries to the players are inevitable. Strength and conditioning coaches play a vital role in the athlete’s process of return to sport. This article is a detailed outline of the solutions that are involved with transitioning a football player from rehabilitation to strength and conditioning back to the field.
This article originally appeared in NSCA Coach, a quarterly publication for NSCA Members that provides valuable takeaways for every level of strength and conditioning coach. You can find scientifically based articles specific to a wide variety of your athletes’ needs with Nutrition, Programming, and Youth columns. Read more articles from NSCA Coach »
Related Reading
References
1. Brandon, TA, and Lamboni, P. Care of collegiate athletes. Maryland Medical Journal 45(8): 669-675, 1996.
2. Brewer, BW. Adherence to sport-injury rehabilitation programs. Journal of Applied Sport Psychology 10(1): 70-82, 1998.
3. Crosnoe, R, Cavanagh, S, and Elder, G. Adolescent friendships as academic resources: The intersection of friendship, race, and school disadvantage. Sociological Perspectives 46(3): 331-352, 2003.
4. Darrow, CJ, Collins, CL, Yard, EE, and Comstock, RD. Epidemiology of severe injuries among United States high school athletes: 2005–2007. American Journal of Sports Medicine 37(9): 1798-1805, 2009.
5. Drew, MK, and Finch, CF. The relationship between training load and injury, illness and soreness: A systematic and literature review. Sports Medicine 46(6): 861-883, 2016.
6. Jones, MH, and Amendola, AS. Acute treatment of inversion ankle sprains: Immobilization versus functional treatment. Clinical Orthopedics and Related Research 455: 169-172, 2007.
7. Kautz, CM, Gittell, JH, Weinberg, DB, Lusenhop, RW, and Wright, J. Patient benefits from participating in an integrated delivery system: Impact on coordination of care. Health Care Management Review 32(3): 284-294, 2007.
8. Kraemer, W, Denegar, C, and Flanagan, S. Recovery from injury in sport: Considerations in the transition from medical care to performance care. Sports Health 1(5): 392-395, 2009.
9. Moore, CA, and Fry, AC. Nonfunctional overreaching during off-season training for skill position players in collegiate American football. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research 21(3): 793-800, 2007.
10. Reiman, MP, and Lorenz, DS. Integration of strength and conditioning principles into a rehabilitation program. International Journal of Sports Physical Therapy 6(3): 241-253, 2011.
Available to:
Members only
Members only
Audience:
Coaches
Coaches
- Privacy Policy
- Terms of Use
- Retraction and Correction Policy
- © 2025 National Strength and Conditioning Association
#NSCAStrong
#NSCAStrong