Return-to-Sport Testing in Chattanooga: Objective Testing Before You Go Back
Return-to-sport testing in Chattanooga from MOTiV is for athletes and active adults coming back from an injury or a surgery such as ACL reconstruction who are not sure they are ready and want it measured before they play again, so you can decide with numbers in hand. The 60-minute assessment costs $150, run one-on-one by Storm Wilson, PT, DPT, OCS, a board-certified orthopedic clinical specialist.
- Duration
- 60 minutes
- Price
- $150One session, self-pay
- Who it is for
- Athletes coming back from an injury or surgery, such as an ACL reconstruction
- How to book
- Call (423) 668-0406. No referral needed.
What does return-to-sport testing measure?
Storm tests strength, movement control and sport-specific function to assess readiness after an injury. He explains where you meet the demands of your sport and where you need more rehabilitation.
"We'll look at other sports specific movements. Like baseball versus hockey versus running. There's different things that need to be looked at."
Storm uses objective data from force plates and a muscle meter for strength testing. He compares sides, but identical numbers are not the goal for every athlete: a quarterback or golfer may need asymmetries. He chooses movement tests for your sport, your injury and your stage of recovery.
Storm Wilson, PT, DPT, OCS runs the test. Storm is a board-certified orthopedic clinical specialist and also races, so the test is read against what a hard training session asks of you. The test closes out MOTiV's sports medicine care: treatment first, then numbers before you go back.
Why test instead of waiting until it feels fine?
How the injury feels on a good day is one piece of information. A test adds measured ones, taken the same way each time, so a retest shows real change.
Testing turns "I think I am ready" into a list: what is ready, what is close, and what still needs work.
When should I get tested after an injury or surgery?
Storm bases testing on functional progression rather than a fixed number of weeks. Call to discuss what you can do now and the sport you want to return to. Testing follows your recovery stage and any surgical restrictions.
For ACL reconstruction there is research on timing. In the Delaware-Oslo ACL cohort study of 106 athletes in pivoting sports, "the reinjury rate was significantly reduced by 51 % for each month RTS was delayed until 9 months after surgery." The same study found a "3 % reduced reinjury rate for every one percentage point increase in strength symmetry" of the quadriceps.
That study looked at one injury in one group of athletes. It does not set a date for your injury, which is why your surgeon's timeline and your own test results come first.
What happens if I do not pass the test?
If you do not meet the readiness criteria, Storm gives you a remediation plan. He explains the remaining deficits and next steps before reassessment.
The next step depends on what fell short. A strength gap points at strength work; a gap in confidence or control points at practice under load. Both can happen in the same building, since MOTiV works inside a full gym.
If you need hands-on help to close the gap, that is what sports and orthopedic physical therapy at MOTiV is for.
What does return-to-sport testing cost, and how do I prepare?
$150for the 60-minute assessment
$150 for the 60-minute assessment, paid directly to MOTiV. MOTiV does not bill insurance.
Before
Call ahead to discuss your sport and bring the equipment needed to assess it. If you had surgery, bring your surgeon's restrictions so testing stays within them.
After
Ask Storm whether to train the day after. Keep your results, so a retest can compare like with like.
Before you book
Where is return-to-sport testing done?
At MOTiV, inside Be Strong at 2101 Chestnut St unit 113, Chattanooga, TN 37408 in Chattanooga. Free parking lot and street parking.
What do athletes ask before testing?
How do I know I am ready to return to sport after an ACL injury?
You know from a combination of time since surgery, objective test results and your surgeon's guidance, not from how the knee feels on a good day. In a 2016 study of 106 athletes in pivoting sports after ACL reconstruction, the reinjury rate fell by 51% for each month return to sport was delayed, up to 9 months after surgery, and more symmetrical quadriceps strength before returning also lowered it.
Source: Grindem et al., British Journal of Sports Medicine, 2016
How long is return-to-sport testing?
Return-to-sport testing at MOTiV is a 60-minute performance assessment and costs $150.
Do I need a referral for return-to-sport testing?
No. MOTiV does not require a physician referral to book return-to-sport testing. If you had surgery, ask your surgeon whether they also want to clear you, and bring any restrictions they gave you.
Can return-to-sport testing help me get back to running or HYROX races?
Yes. The test is for whatever sport you are going back to after an injury, endurance racing included, and Storm races both: a 2:52 marathon and a 71-minute HYROX. Tell Storm the race you are building toward when you book, so the results are read against it.
What helps before and after the test?
Now booking founding clients
Go back with numbers, not a guess.
Call, or send a short note and tell Storm what is holding you back. You will hear back about the right first visit.
(423) 668-04062101 Chestnut St unit 113, Chattanooga, TN 37408Inside Be Strong