This project examines current practice, in order to identify gaps in "Return to Sport" (RTS) service provision and to describe utilization of evidence based sports injury prevention programs in youths after orthopedic surgery or musculoskeletal trauma.
1. Research protocol submitted for ethical approval.
2. Study cohort (n=369) identified by screening the referral data base for calendar year 2022 for patients meeting inclusion criteria (age>10 years, post lower limb injury or elective orthopedic surgery, attended 1st physiotherapy session)
3. Collection of descriptive data across a number of variables examining the patient cohort, assessment and treatment documented and clinician experience.
4. Both descriptive and correlation statistical analysis between subgroups was completed using STATA software.
89% of youths participated in sport prior to injury/ surgery.
100% of patients were assessed using impairment based tools eg : goniometry, muscle testing.
42% of patients had some RTS testing done, but these were done in isolation, not as a battery as suggested in the literature.
3% of patients were prescribed evidence based injury prevention programmes.
Examination of data for bias relating to gender, socioeconomic, sport level or clinician experience was completed. No bias was evident.
The level of sport participation of the patients in this study shows closer examination of readiness to return to sport is warranted in clinical practice.
Infrastructural barriers of time and space limit the type and consistency of testing being done in relation to "Return to Sport".
The objective of this study, coupled with a literature review, is to inform the development of a standard of care, for RTS in pediatrics, which will be relevant to all clinical sites in the largest pediatric hospital in Ireland. Ultimately this work will inform improvements in musculoskeletal rehabilitation and relapse prevention in the pediatric outpatient setting.
Current research suggests that in order to rehabilitate youth after injury or surgery, clinical decision making regarding "Return to Sport" should be objective across biological, physical and psychological domains. There is a clear need for standardized pathways for RTS assessment and future work will address this need through the development of a dedicated pediatric "Return to Sport" clinical service.
Paediatric
rehabilitation
