February 04th, 2023

As an athlete, it can be difficult to know when and how to return to sport after an injury. In order to ensure a safe and successful return, graded exposure is an important step. Graded exposure is a process of slowly returning to sport and involves the athlete gradually increasing their activity level.

For high school and recreational athletes, it is important to understand the difference between going from rehabilitation directly into a game and slowly returning to sport. Going from rehab directly into a game can be dangerous and can lead to further injury. By slowly returning to sport, athletes are able to gradually increase their activity level and reduce the risk of re-injury.

​When returning to sport, there are a few ways to ensure a safe and successful return. One way is to use yellow jerseys in practice to protect from contact. This allows athletes to get back into the game without the fear of contact and can help them to gradually increase their activity level. Another way to slowly return to sport is to mimic athletic motions that happen in the game during practice. This allows athletes to practice the same movements they would be performing in a game, without the risk of contact.

Overall, graded exposure is an important step for high school and recreational athletes when returning to sport after an injury. By slowly returning to sport, athletes are able to reduce the risk of re-injury and ensure a safe and successful return.