August 7, 2025
We’ve all been there. A game or competition is coming up, and you’re wondering if that nagging pain or recent injury will keep you from doing what you love. Returning to sport is a delicate balance between recovery and the risk of re-injury. This guide breaks down when it might be okay to push through—and when you shouldn’t.
The first thing to consider is whether the injury is acute or chronic.
An acute injury happens suddenly—like rolling your ankle, straining a muscle, or dislocating a joint. These usually need time to heal before returning to sport.
A chronic injury results from long-term overuse—such as tendon inflammation or stress fractures. Athletes may be able to compete if pain is low (under 3 out of 10) and manageable.
If the injury is recent (within 1–2 weeks), with swelling, stiffness, weakness, pain, or limited motion, it’s best to rest and rehab first.
Before thinking about competition, ask: Can the athlete do basic movements outside of sport?
They should be able to do these things with little to no pain. The athlete must also meet basic physical benchmarks—range of motion, strength, balance, conditioning, and control—to return to sport.
Example: A CrossFit athlete wants to compete after a high ankle sprain but can’t complete a 10-minute Metcon without exhaustion. That’s not a green light for competition.
Load is the amount of stress applied in a single movement.
Volume is the total workload over time.
Let’s compare two examples with patellar tendinitis:
The weightlifter is more likely to avoid re-injury. The marathon runner is not.
Confidence, motivation, and mental toughness matter just as much as physical recovery.
Simone Biles withdrawing from the Tokyo 2020 Olympics is a perfect example. Physically fine—but mentally, she wasn’t ready. She knew the risks of injury were too high.
On the other hand, imagine a 16-year-old who is 9 months post-op from ACL surgery. Their body might be ready, but their mind may not be. Fear of re-injury and doubt can be just as limiting.
There are many other factors at play, but the decision to compete should always be made with a medical professional. Just because you can compete doesn’t mean you’re at 100%.
Performance may drop during recovery. That’s normal. What matters is knowing your “why” and understanding the risk vs reward.
This isn’t a black-and-white decision. Always talk with your healthcare provider first.
Dr. Rachel Tauber
PT, DPT, MSEd, EMR-A, CSCS, PRA, USAW-L1
This content is for educational purposes only. It is not intended as medical advice. Please consult your Physical Therapist, Physician, or Healthcare Provider for medical guidance.
