Subjective criteria associated with returnto- play in sports physical therapy

Abstract

Introduction: The Subjective Daily Assessment Scale (ESAD) is based on the visual analog scale (VAS) and assesses six parameters (pain, edema, heat, mobility, sensitivity, and confidence). Objective: This study aimed to examine the association between the analyzed variables as assessed by the ESAD and physical therapy clinical discharge and return-to-play of injured athletes. Method: Eighty-one patient records of athletes were analyzed; mean sample age was 23.9 ± 6.3 years. The athletes received treatment through the Sports Physical Therapy program of Santa Catarina State University, Brazil, between 2008 and 2011. Six parameters were ranked on a scale from 0 to 10, with 0 being the best possible condition and 10 the worst. Data analysis was conducted using stepwise Cox regression. Results: At the time of the injury, the mean score for confidence was 5.82 ± 0.48, and at the time of return-to-play, it was 0.48 ± 1.1; the mean score for pain decreased from 3.7 ± 2.64 to 0.34 ± 0.83. However, due to the strong association between pain and confidence, only confidence remained in the final model. For each reduction in the value reported for confidence, the probability of return-to-play was 0.62 times greater. Conclusion: The results showed that confidence was the best variable for predicting athlete return-to-play.