Return to Sport Testing at Atlas Performance Therapy: How We Do It Differently

At Atlas Performance Therapy in Jupiter, FL, we work with athletes eager to get back on the field, court, track, or in the gym after injury — not just to participate, but to compete at a high level with confidence.

One of the most critical — and often overlooked — parts of this process?

✅ Return-to-sport testing.

But this isn’t just a checkbox at the end of rehab. It’s a comprehensive, sport-specific assessment that helps us answer the essential question:

Is your body truly ready to handle the demands of your sport?

Why Return-to-Sport Testing Matters

Too often, athletes are cleared based on time (“it’s been 6 months”) or a quick look at strength (“your leg looks strong”). But whether you’re recovering from an ACL tear, hamstring strain, shoulder injury, or overuse issue — time alone isn’t enough.

We don’t just want you to be healed — we want you to be ready.

Without proper testing, athletes often return with:

• Undetected strength imbalances
  
  

• Compensatory movement patterns
  
  

• Limited explosive power or control under fatigue
  
  

• Lingering fear or hesitation
  
  

• A higher risk of re-injury
  
  

What We Test at Atlas Performance Therapy

Every sport and every athlete is different — so our testing process is tailored to your goals and your sport. That said, here are five key areas we assess in our return to sport testing:

1. Strength & Symmetry

We use tools like force plates and handheld dynamometers to assess both isolated and functional strength. For lower body injuries, we focus on quad, hamstring, and glute strength, and look for side-to-side symmetry to reduce re-injury risk.

2. Power & Rate of Force Development (RFD)

Explosive power doesn’t just come back on its own. We measure vertical jumps, single-leg hops, and other power-based movements to see how quickly and effectively you can generate force — key for jumping, sprinting, and cutting.

3. Movement Quality

It’s not just what you do — it’s how you do it. We assess mechanics during tasks like landing, running, and cutting to spot compensations or instability that could lead to future injury.

4. Reactive & Cognitive Control

Sport isn’t scripted. We use reactive drills and dual-task movements to test how you move under real-world demands — especially important for high-speed or contact sports.

5. Fatigue Tolerance

Most injuries happen when athletes are tired. We simulate game-like fatigue and assess how your body performs under stress. Your rehab should reflect the chaos of competition.

Return to Sport Is a Process — Not a Pass/Fail Test

Our testing isn’t just about “clearing” you. It’s about building a clear, progressive plan for what you can do now, where you still need work, and how to safely level up without setbacks.

At Atlas, we help you return to sport:

✔ Confident
✔ Competitive
✔ In control

And we’ll be there to guide you through every phase of the process.

Ready to Take the Guesswork Out of Your Comeback?

📍 Whether you're 3 months post-op or already cleared to play again but feel “off,” our return-to-sport testing can give you the answers — and the edge — you need.

📞 Contact us today to schedule your assessment or learn more about our sports rehab and performance programs in Jupiter, FL.