Injury Management and Return-To-Play: Practices in India

Objective: To examine the injury management and return to play practices in India.

Methods: A sample consisted of 420 athletes and 110 coaches participated in the study. Information was obtained from athletes and coaches through survey method. Two different questionnaires were prepared for the athletes and coaches.

Results: A total of 420 athletes with mean age of 20.4±3.84 years and 110 coaches with the mean age of 45.5±5.8 years participated in the study. The results showed that the athletes and coaches were concerned more about the major injuries rather than the minor injuries. The minor injuries are managed by the athletes themselves on the advice of the coaches, teammates and senior players. Also, there is no standard procedure followed for return to play of players in India.

Conclusions: The study showed that there is no standardized and well established practice for injury management and return to play practices in India.