Here is a sobering statistic: athletes who return to sport without passing objective testing criteria are 4-7 times more likely to suffer a re-injury. A surgeon’s clearance at a follow-up appointment is not enough. Time since surgery is not enough. Feeling good is not enough. Return to sport testing Austin athletes need requires objective, sport-specific, data-driven evaluation — and that is exactly what Helix Sports Medicine provides.
At Helix Sports Medicine, return-to-sport testing combines standardized hop tests, strength measurements, movement quality analysis, and sport-specific drills in our Performance Lab to give athletes, parents, coaches, and surgeons the objective data needed for a confident clearance decision.
Key Takeaways
- Objective testing reduces re-injury risk — athletes who pass comprehensive return-to-sport criteria have significantly lower re-injury rates
- The Helix Performance Lab provides professional-grade testing equipment including force plates, Keiser pneumatic systems, and agility testing
- Testing goes beyond strength — includes power, agility, movement quality, sport-specific demands, and psychological readiness
- Every athlete gets a detailed report with scores, limb symmetry indices, and specific recommendations
- Applicable after any injury or surgery — ACL, ankle, concussion, shoulder, hip, and more
What Return-to-Sport Testing Includes
Return-to-sport testing at Helix is not a single test — it is a comprehensive battery designed to evaluate every aspect of athletic readiness:
Strength Testing
Objective strength measurement comparing the injured side to the uninjured side. We use isokinetic dynamometry and functional strength tests to quantify quad, hamstring, hip, and shoulder strength depending on the injury.
- Passing criteria: 90 percent or greater limb symmetry index for most lower extremity injuries
- Why it matters: Strength deficits are one of the strongest predictors of re-injury
Hop Tests
A standardized battery of hop tests that measure power, confidence, and functional symmetry:
- Single Hop for Distance — maximal single-leg hop, comparing sides
- Triple Hop for Distance — three consecutive hops, measuring repeated power
- Crossover Hop — lateral hops over a line, testing frontal plane control
- Timed 6-Meter Hop — hopping for speed, combining power and confidence
Movement Quality Screens
Quantitative and qualitative assessment of how the athlete moves under load and at speed:
- Single-leg squat quality — assessing knee control, hip stability, trunk alignment
- Landing mechanics — evaluating deceleration patterns from jumps and cuts
- Dynamic valgus assessment — a key risk factor for ACL and knee injuries
- Sport-specific movement patterns — cutting, pivoting, deceleration in sport context
Sport-Specific Drills
Testing in the Helix Performance Lab includes sport-specific agility, reactive drills, and position-specific tasks that replicate game demands. This is where we assess not just physical readiness but psychological confidence — does the athlete trust their body under pressure?
Why Return-to-Sport Testing Matters
The research is clear:
- Athletes who pass return-to-sport testing have up to 84 percent lower re-injury rates
- Athletes cleared by time alone (for example, cleared at 6 months post-ACL surgery based on calendar) have significantly higher re-injury rates
- Subjective readiness does not match objective readiness — many athletes report feeling ready while still having measurable deficits
- Strength deficits above 10 percent at return are consistently associated with increased injury risk
Return-to-sport testing removes the guesswork. Instead of hoping your athlete is ready, you know — backed by data.
The Helix Performance Lab Advantage
Most physical therapy clinics do not have the equipment or space to perform comprehensive return-to-sport testing. The Helix Performance Lab is a warehouse-scale performance facility featuring:
- Force plates — quantify ground reaction forces, landing symmetry, and power output
- Keiser pneumatic equipment — velocity-based training and power testing used by professional sports programs
- Indoor turf and agility space — sport-specific cutting, sprinting, and reactive drills
- Professional testing environment — the same caliber of equipment and protocols used by college and pro teams
This is not a treatment room with a few exercise bands. It is a professional performance testing facility staffed by clinicians who understand both the medical and performance sides of return to sport.
Who Needs Return-to-Sport Testing?
Any athlete returning to competitive sport after a significant injury or surgery should undergo objective testing. Common scenarios include:
- Post-ACL reconstruction — the most researched and well-established use case (learn about our ACL rehab program)
- Post-ankle sprain or reconstruction — especially athletes in cutting and pivoting sports
- Post-concussion — exertion testing and cognitive clearance (read about concussion recovery)
- Post-shoulder surgery — overhead athletes (baseball, volleyball, swimming, tennis)
- Post-hip surgery — FAI, labral repair, hip scope athletes
- Chronic or recurring injuries — athletes with a pattern of re-injury need objective assessment before returning
- Pre-season clearance — baseline testing for high-risk athletes
How It Works at Helix
The return-to-sport testing process at Helix follows a clear pathway:
Step 1: Evaluation — Your clinician reviews your injury history, surgical details (if applicable), and rehabilitation progress to determine appropriate testing protocols.
Step 2: Testing — A comprehensive battery of strength tests, hop tests, movement screens, and sport-specific drills in the Performance Lab. Testing typically takes 60-90 minutes.
Step 3: Report — You receive a detailed report with scores, limb symmetry indices, percentile comparisons, and specific areas of strength and deficit.
Step 4: Decision — Based on results, we provide one of three outcomes:
- Full clearance — all criteria met, return to unrestricted sport
- Conditional clearance — most criteria met, specific limitations or continued work identified
- Not cleared — significant deficits remain, continued rehabilitation with targeted programming
Results are shared with your surgeon, athletic trainer, or coach as needed.
Schedule Your Return-to-Sport Testing
Do not leave your return to sport up to guesswork. Objective testing gives athletes, parents, and coaches the confidence that comes from data — not hope.
Schedule return-to-sport testing
Call (512) 253-3707 or request an appointment online.
Frequently Asked Questions
When should my athlete do return-to-sport testing?
Testing is typically performed at the end of a rehabilitation program, when your clinician believes the athlete may be ready for clearance. For ACL reconstruction, this is usually around 8-9 months post-surgery. For other injuries, timing varies. Your physical therapist will recommend the appropriate time based on rehabilitation progress.
What if my athlete does not pass?
Not passing is not a failure — it is valuable information. The report identifies specific deficits that need to be addressed, and your clinician will design targeted programming to close those gaps. Athletes who address identified deficits before returning have much better outcomes than those who return with unresolved weaknesses.
Can I get return-to-sport testing without doing rehab at Helix?
Yes. We offer standalone return-to-sport testing for athletes who completed rehabilitation elsewhere and want objective clearance data. You do not need to be a current Helix patient to access our testing services.
How long does the testing take?
A comprehensive return-to-sport testing session typically takes 60-90 minutes, including warm-up, testing, and initial results discussion. The detailed written report is provided within a few days.
Is return-to-sport testing covered by insurance?
Helix is a cash-pay practice. Return-to-sport testing is included as part of our comprehensive rehabilitation programs, or available as a standalone service. Contact us for current pricing.