Often a physical therapist is responsible for evaluating when an athlete is ready to return to competition. They also have to manage the fine balance of enabling the athlete to return to play quickly, while also analyzing his or her potential risk for re-injury. Physical therapists manage athletic injuries using several different treatment techniques. It is common to use modalities such as ultrasound, electrical stimulation, ice and manual therapy to assist the athlete through the acute or early stages of healing.

Once the initial effects of the injury have been addressed, therapists can work with athletes to regain flexibility and strength that might have been lost with the injury. During the entire process, the therapist is educating the athlete on how they can learn to avoid re-injury. Advice can be simple, such as teaching a hurdler how to properly stretch and warm up before competition. Sometimes the education is more complex, such as helping a tennis player re-adjust his or her backhand to avoid future shoulder problems. Sports rehabilitation is an exciting and often fast-paced field.