Designing strength and conditioning programs

for injured athletes requires the strength and conditioning

professional to examine the rehabilitation and reconditioning goals to determine
what type of program will allow the
quickest return to competition.
concluSion538 Essentials of Strength Training and Conditioning
Effective athletic injury rehabilitation and reconditioning require efficient co
mmunication among the members of the sports medicine team. Each member plays a d
istinct
role in ensuring the injured athlete s return to function; although the job of eac
h professional is different, the tasks of each complement those of the others on
the team.
Goals are established for each athlete, and therapeutic exercise programs must b
e
designed, administered, and progressed according to the tissue healing sequence.
The
program must be individualized to effectively return the athlete to normal funct
ion and
competitive athletics. Early rehabilitation for initial tissue protection and st
rengthening is more structured than later rehabilitation phases; the latter allo
w for progression
to functional activities that are specific to the athlete s sport and position. De
signing
reconditioning programs for injured athletes necessitates a careful examination
of the
sport requirements and a thorough understanding of both the healing process and
therapeutic exercise.
but the bench press exercise may be contraindicated because it can place the inj
ured shoulder in
a vulnerable position. To clarify the strength and
conditioning professional s role during this process,
it may be beneficial to have the sports medicine
team use a form that specifies the indications and
contraindications, providing for safe and efficient
conditioning (figure 20.1).
The strength and conditioning professional
must also communicate efficiently and effectively
with other members of the sports medicine team.
Specifically, other members should be aware of the
strength and conditioning exercises that the injured
athlete is performing, responses to the exercises,
and any additional information deemed important
by the strength and conditioning professional. In
other words, the strength and conditioning professional should answer the follow
ing questions: What
is the athlete doing? How is the athlete progressing?
Do any program changes need to be made? Figure
20.2 is a sample form that the strength and conditioning professional can use to
communicate a given
program s components and the athlete s subjective
and objective responses to those components.