Return to Sport Decisions?

As a Certified Athletic Trainer I have had the opportunity to  cover high school and collegiate sports; and had to make the "Hold 'Em Out, or Let 'Em Play" decision based on little to no science but rather my best guess as to if the athlete was really ready. I long desired a better way to objectively determine when an athlete was ready to participate after an injury or surgery. I dreaded confronting athletes, parents, coaches and physicians with "My Gut" answer to How long are they out?, Why are they held out?. How do you confidently answer these questions and what makes your stomach churn?


By The Way; we have objective science now that helps us answer these questions confidently.