Prehab & Rehabilitation — all lessons
Foundations of MSK Rehabilitation
Principles of injury prevention and recoveryBiomechanics and movement analysisUnderstanding pain science and tissue healingRehab Exercise Strategies
Progressive loading techniquesProgram design for rehabilitationPhased rehab programming: acute to return-to-performancePrehab 121 Protocols (intermediate–late stage)
ActivationEarly strengtheningAdvanced strengtheningPlyometrics in rehabilitationReturn-to-sport exercisesPrevention, Surgery and Return to Sport
Injury prevention programmesThe preoperative phase (prehabilitation)Role of criteria-based progressionsReturn-to-sport testingIntegration with strength and conditioningCase Studies
Case studies and real-world client scenariosPlyometrics in rehabilitation
Reintroducing jumping, hopping and running in late-stage rehab — progressions, readiness criteria and monitoring.
Learning objectives
- Define readiness criteria for plyometrics after injury
- Progress plyometrics by intensity, direction and limb
- Integrate running progressions
- Monitor response and adjust
Before this lesson
Why this matters
Sport demands elastic, high-rate loading. Without restoring it, athletes return unprepared.
Readiness
Typical criteria: pain-free heavy strength work, strength near symmetry, controlled single-leg squat and landing, no reactive swelling [ardern2016]. Tendons, in particular, need gradual reintroduction of energy-storage loading [cook2009].
Progression
| Stage | Examples |
|---|---|
| 1 | Double-leg pogo hops, skipping, low box jumps (land on box) |
| 2 | Single-leg hops in place, broad jumps |
| 3 | Lateral hops, hurdle hops, bounding |
| 4 | Depth jumps, reactive multi-directional hops |
Plyometric training improves neuromuscular and tendon properties [markovic2010].
Running progression (example)
Walk–jog intervals → continuous jogging → strides at 60–80% → acceleration → maximal sprinting → change of direction.
Common mistakes and misconceptions
Case study
After ACL reconstruction, a netball player begins double-leg hops at month 4, single-leg hops at month 5 and reactive lateral work at month 7, guided by strength and hop testing.
Further learning: video lessons
Video links are only marked “verified” after a human has watched them. Unverified entries open a YouTube search for that channel and topic rather than a guessed link.
Return to hopping and running
physiotherapy educators (search, e.g. E3 Rehab, Physiotutors)
You will understand: plyometric progressions in rehab
Why: Clinician-led practical content; verify the specific video.
Return to running after injury
sports physio channels (search)
You will understand: running progressions
Why: Clinical guidance.
Knowledge check
Knowledge check · 0/5
1. A first-stage rehab plyometric might be…
2. A typical progression is…
3. Plyometrics train…
4. If knee swelling increases after hopping, you should…
5. Plyometrics in rehab are usually introduced…
Short-answer & application questions
- Write a 4-week hop progression after ankle sprain.
- List landing-quality cues.
- Design a return-to-running plan.
Key takeaways
- Begin plyometrics after adequate strength and pain-free heavy loading.
- Progress from double- to single-leg, vertical to horizontal to lateral, and low to high intensity.
- Running and plyometric progressions run alongside strength work.
- Monitor symptoms and landing quality; regress if needed.
Connected topics
Return-to-sport exercises
prehab rehabReturn-to-sport testing
biomechanicsForce, rate of force development and the stretch-shortening cycle
References
- Markovic G, Mikulic P (2010). Neuro-musculoskeletal and performance adaptations to lower-extremity plyometric training. Sports Medicine, 40(10):859–895. Narrative review check pending
- Ardern CL, Glasgow P, Schneiders A, et al. (2016). 2016 Consensus statement on return to sport from the First World Congress in Sports Physical Therapy, Bern. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 50(14):853–864. doi:10.1136/bjsports-2016-096278 Guideline check pending
- Cook JL, Purdam CR (2009). Is tendon pathology a continuum? A pathology model to explain the clinical presentation of load-induced tendinopathy. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 43(6):409–416. Narrative review check pending
Educational content only — not medical advice. Consult a qualified clinician for diagnosis or treatment.