Phase 1: PRICE- Manage pain and swelling.

• The goal in this phase is to manage the signs and symptoms of any acute injury (inflammation, pain, and restricted movement) using PRICE.

Phase 2: Begin ROM and resume cardiovascular training.

• The goal in this phase is begin range of motion exercises. In the beginning of range of motion exercises, light Thera-bands and non-weight bearing exercises should be used.
• Be attentive for increased pain, swelling, weakness, or spasm (signs of too much motion) during this phase. If any of these symptoms persist, stop and revert to phase 1.

Phase 3: Restore ROM, improve strength and endurance, proprioception, and continue cardiovascular training.

• The goal in this phase is to restore range of motion and should include slightly more difficult yet pain free exercise plan that includes heavier Thera-bands, and weight bearing exercises.
• Proprioception should be included with both weight bearing, and non- weight bearing exercises (Example: Balance exercises).

Phase 4: Restore strength, begin sport specific exercises.

• The goal in this phase is to begin sport specific exercises, that should include full speed non-contact drills to ensure full restoration of strength and range of motion.
• Restoring strength should be done bilaterally to prevent atrophy of the uninjured side.

Phase 5: Return to sport.

• The goal of this phase is to help the athlete return to play by using effective taping, bracing, special pads, etc.

Practical Principles of Rehabilitation for the Treatment Room

As a volunteer or a coordinator in the treatment room, you operate under Jodi’s direction. You should do your best to research material that will help the athlete you treat. At this point in your academic and professional career, most of you, if not all, do not have enough training in rehabilitation to know how to specifically help someone at their point of injury. As such, here are some principles to help guide you as you work to help the people in the treatment room.

• We do not push our athletes through pain. If an exercise causes pain at the injured sight, then it should be avoided. In your future career, you may know how to properly strengthen athletes even when the exercise causes pain. You don’t have the experience or permission to do so now. Pushing through pain, may cause the person to be injured even worse. Avoid it!
• Communicate with your athlete to understand which ranges of motions hurt and then avoid them as they heal.
• Safety is a huge priority. In exercises that require balance, make sure that they have something to reach out and grab if they feel like they are going to fall. This is especially true if you are working on hard surfaces and not on a wrestling mat.
• Since you do not push your athlete through pain, attempt instead to strengthen the rest of the kinetic chain. The cause of injury could be due to muscle imbalances in places beside the joint. Take into account their posture and make plans to help improve it. In essence, train the surrounding joints to help the injured joint.
• See the bigger picture. Many injuries come from poor sport mechanics (ie. Poor jumping technique contributing to meniscus pain, or poor volleyball serves causing rotator cuff injuries). As you rehabilitate your athlete, have them go through some of their sport motions to see if this is their problem.
• Lastly, there are several ways that you can rehabilitate your athlete’s injury. Depending on your athlete, you can focus on bilateral strengthening, stretching, proprioception/neuromuscular control, cardiovascular health, core stability, and posture in the kinetic chain. Always seek to use wisdom in how you treat them.

Do not be afraid to draw upon the wealth of knowledge from fellow students, coordinators, and Jodi as you rehabilitate your athlete. These people can be valuable resources to guarantee the success of your athlete’s healing. Ultimately, what happens in the treatment room should always be under Jodi’s guidance. She has more authority than this manual. (For further information on rehabilitation, review pages 193-198 in Essentials of Athletic Injury Management by William Prentice.)