Returning to Play
1. Returning to play is specific for each person, depending on the sport. Starting 4/26/13, Ohio law requires written permission from a health care provider before an athlete can return to play. Follow instructions and guidance provided by ahealthcareprofessional. Itisimportantthatyou,yourchild and your child’s coach follow these instructions carefully.
2. Your child should NEVER return to play if he/she still has ANY symptoms. (Be sure that your child does not have any symptoms at rest and while doing any physical activity and/or activities that require a lot of thinking or concentration).
3. Be sure that the athletic trainer, coach and physical education teacher are aware of your child’s injury and symptoms.
4. Your athlete should complete a step-by-step exercise -based progression, under the direction of a qualified healthcare professional.
5. A sample activity progression is listed below. Generally, each step should take no less than 24 hours so that your child’s full recovery would take about one week once they have no symptoms at rest and with moderate exercise.*
Sample Activity Progression*
Step 1: Low levels of non-contact physical activity, provided NO SYMPTOMS return during or after activity. (Examples: walking, light jogging, and easy stationary biking for 20--30 minutes).
Step 2: Moderate, non-contact physical activity, provided NO SYMPTOMS return during or after activity. (Examples: moderate jogging, brief sprint running, moderate stationary biking, light calisthenics, and sport-- specific drills without contact or collisions for 30--45 minutes).
Step 3: Heavy, non--contact physical activity, provided NO SYMPTOMS return during or after activity. (Examples: extensive sprint running, high intensity stationary biking, resistance exercise with machines and free weights, more intense non--contact sports specific drills, agility training and jumping drills for 45--60 minutes).
Step 4: Full contact in controlled practice or scrimmage. Step 5: Full contact in game play.
*If any symptoms occur, the athlete should drop back to the previous step and try to progress again after a 24 hour rest period.
Ohio Department of Health
Violence and Injury Preven??on Program 246 North High Street, 8th Floor Columbus, OH 43215 (614) 466-2144