The Return to Sport Guidebook epub

Prepare athletes to return to sport following an injury.

Bridging the gap between acute physical therapy and sport performance, The Return to Sport Guidebook: Advancing the Athlete From Rehab to Peak Performance guides strength and conditioning coaches through the process of rebuilding athlete strength, power, speed, and agility for both upper- and lower-body injuries. Unlike other resources that provide philosophies and theoretical approaches, this book includes actionable steps such as sample programs and case studies.

In the early chapters you’ll explore the rationale for approaching return to sport (RTS), including the role of the strength and conditioning professional, the impact of pain on the healing process, and the different phases of rebuilding after an injury. Later, the authors provide foundational movement skills that athletes need to master. Images accompany these descriptions, making it easy to reference when working with an athlete.

After laying the foundation of RTS rationale and basic movement types, coaches will find detailed sample programs and progressions to use with their athletes. The upper- and lower-body programs take you through all the phases of rebuilding, maximizing performance while reducing the risk of reinjury.

With 84 lower-body and 50 upper-body exercises, The Return to Sport Guidebook is an invaluable resource for any coach looking to effectively guide athletes through their rehabilitation journey. Each exercise includes rehab considerations, making it easy to identify when the exercise may be best used and with what injury types. A sample ACL rehab program with descriptions of exercises and drills used throughout the RTS progression is provided.

The return-to-sport process is a long and challenging one. By implementing the exercises and programs in this guidebook, strength and conditioning coaches can feel confident that they are helping their athletes safely rebuild and return to the court or field.

Earn continuing education credits/units! A continuing education exam that uses this book is also available. It may be purchased separately or as part of a package that includes both the book and exam.

Audience

Strength and conditioning coaches, sport performance professionals, and rehab practitioners who work with field and court sport athletes, from the high school level to the professional level.

Part I. Principles Over Methods
Chapter 1. Role of the Performance Coach
Chapter 2. Understanding Pain, Injury, and Healing
Chapter 3. Role of Early-Stage Rehabilitation
Chapter 4. Return to Sport Continuum

Part II. Lower Body
Chapter 5. Lower-Body Biomechanical Principles
Chapter 6. Linear Speed
Chapter 7. Multidirectional Speed
Chapter 8. Strength Classifications and Lower-Body Training
Chapter 9. Multiplanar Plyometrics and Running Vertical Jumps
Chapter 10. Sample Programs and Progressions
Chapter 11. Lower-Body Exercises

Part III. Upper Body
Chapter 12. Upper-Body Biomechanical Principles and Foundations
Chapter 13. Strength, Power, and Plyometrics
Chapter 14. Return to Throwing Progression
Chapter 15. Sample Strength and Plyometric Progressions
Chapter 16. Upper-Body Exercises

Trevor Rappa, Doug Kechijian, and Greg Spatz are the cofounders of Resilient Performance Physical Therapy and Resilient Performance Systems. Resilient systematically navigates the continuum between acute rehabilitation and athletic performance. Resilient’s clients include athletes from the National Football League (NFL), Major League Baseball (MLB), National Basketball Association (NBA), National Hockey League (NHL), Premier Lacrosse League (PLL), professional mixed martial arts, X Games, Winter and Summer Olympics, and National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA); federal law enforcement tactical teams and military special operations forces; and those with a history of persistent pain and extensive surgical backgrounds. Resilient also advises organizations about medical and performance staffing, program development, and injury risk mitigation strategies.

Trevor Rappa, PT, DPT, CSCS, is a performance-based physical therapist who focuses on helping athletes achieve their movement and performance goals. Whether it be acute rehabilitation or sport performance, he recognizes the importance of the biomechanical and neurophysiological aspects of movement patterns. He received his bachelor’s degree (BS) in biology from Amherst College, where he was a member of the football team. As an undergraduate student, he interned at Mike Boyle Strength and Conditioning facility. He earned his doctor of physical therapy (DPT) degree from Columbia University, holds the Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) credential, and has advanced training in joint and soft tissue manipulation, movement screening, and dry needling.

Doug Kechijian, PT, DPT, is a performance-based physical therapist who understands the demands placed on athletes at the highest level. Dr. Kechijian did pararescue in the U.S. Air Force, deployed throughout the world to help provide technical rescue capability and emergency medical care to U.S forces and allied forces. He is a nationally certified paramedic with advanced training in emergency, trauma, and wilderness medicine. In 2015, he was selected as one of the U.S. Air Force’s Outstanding Airmen of the Year. Dr. Kechijian received his bachelor’s (AB) degree in biology from Brown University and his master’s (MA) degree in exercise physiology and doctor of physical therapy (DPT) degree from Columbia University.

Greg Spatz, PT, DPT, CSCS, is a performance-based physical therapist who recognizes the continuum of rehabilitation to sport performance. With a comprehensive approach to optimizing movement, he helps address the underlying biomechanical and neurophysiological patterns that contribute to injury or performance goals. Formerly a strength and conditioning coach in the Arizona Diamondbacks organization, Dr. Spatz worked with professional baseball players to improve athletic performance while minimizing injury risk. He received his bachelor’s (BS) degree in health and exercise science from The College of New Jersey, where he was a member of the baseball team. He earned his doctor of physical therapy (DPT) degree from Columbia University and has advanced training in joint and soft tissue manipulation, movement screening, sports medicine, dry needling, and manual therapy.

“Working with Trevor has truly transformed me into an elite athlete. The Return to Sport Guidebook captures everything I’ve experienced—from rehab protocols that actually work to performance training that elevated my vertical, speed, and movement quality. This is the blueprint every athlete needs to not just return but reach their peak.”
—Tyson Etienne, Point Guard for the Brooklyn Nets

“As a longtime strength and conditioning coach, I’ve gained valuable experience in training healthy athletes to reach their goals. An area I’m not as confident in is helping injured athletes return to their sport. This is why I can’t rave enough about the new book The Return to Sport Guidebook: Advancing the Athlete From Rehab to Peak Performance. The depth and systematic approach of this book give me the confidence I need. It’s an absolute must for every strength and conditioning coach to have in the library.”
—Lee Taft, World Renowned Multidirectional Speed Coach

“The Return to Sport Guidebook is a long-awaited and much-needed resource for all practitioners situated along the journey back from injury. Athlete rehabilitation cannot be considered a one-step process of healing an injury and simply stepping back onto the court or field of play. It is a comprehensive progression, with many touch points required to ensure overall resiliency and optimal performance on the back end. This guide identifies—in a practical and commonsense manner—the key steps required to realize successful and sustainable outcomes for athletes in all sports at all levels of performance.”
—Derek M. Hansen, CSCS, High-Performance Sport Consultant and Author of Plyometric Anatomy