Gerald A. Stevens, ATC, LAT presents "Return to Play Rehab Strategies and Recurrence Prevention for Lower Extremity Tendonopathies in Athletes" at the 2013 9th Annual Cutting Edge Concepts in Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine Seminar presented by Orlando Orthopaedic Center Foundation.

1. Lower Extremity
Tendonopothies
Return to Play Guidelines
And
Recurrence Prevention

2. “Brevity is the soul of wit”
William Shakespeare

3. Lower Extremity
Tendonopothies
• Return to Play?
• Prevention
• Determine the cause
• Identify contributing factors
• Corrections and modifications
• Condition’s status
• Point of no return

4. What Does Return to Play
Mean?
AOSSM defines it as the point in
recovery after an injury or surgery when
an athlete is able to participate in their
sport or activity at a level similar to
that before the injury or the surgery
took place.

5. Prevention

6. Cause of the injury
Activity demands
Biomechanical
Poor Technique
Over training
Previous injury
Other condition

7. Contributing Factors
 Equipment
 Playing surfaces
 Rest & recovery
 Diet
 Repetitive
trauma

8. Corrections or Modifications
Training philosophies
Proper equipment
Rest and recovery
Warm up and cool down

9. Condition’s Status
• Completely
resolved?
• No meds (Rx or
OTC)
• No assistive
devices
• Athlete
compliance

10. Point of No Return
Time table for
return
Level of
participation
Know your
athletes!

11. References
1. AOSSM
2. All the speakers, presenters and
educators that I have encountered,
listened and notated over the past 30
years as a student and AT.

12. Thank You