Return-to-Sport Testing
Cost: $225 for a 75-minute testing session plus a written report. Retest at a later date is $150.
What this is
An objective test battery that answers a question most people never actually get answered: is this leg or this shoulder ready, measured against the other side and against published benchmarks. Not ready by feel. Ready by numbers.
Being discharged from physical therapy usually means you stopped hurting and hit the visit limit. It does not mean anyone measured whether your injured side can produce force, absorb landing, and change direction like the healthy side can. That gap is where a lot of reinjuries live.
Who this is for
- Post-ACL, post-meniscus, or post-knee-surgery athletes deciding whether to return to cutting sports.
- Anyone cleared by a surgeon or therapist who still does not trust the limb.
- Parents who want an objective read before letting a kid go back to a competitive season.
- Post-shoulder-surgery or chronic shoulder athletes returning to overhead or contact sport.
- Anyone who has already reinjured the same area once and does not want to do it a third time.
What gets tested
The specific battery depends on your injury and your sport, but a lower-body test day typically includes:
- Limb symmetry index across a hop test series: single hop for distance, triple hop, crossover hop, and timed hop.
- Isometric and dynamic strength testing of the quadriceps, hamstrings, hip abductors, and calf, compared side to side.
- Hamstring-to-quadriceps strength ratio.
- Y-balance or equivalent dynamic single-leg balance and reach testing.
- Drop jump and landing mechanics assessment, including video review with you.
- Change-of-direction and deceleration mechanics relevant to your sport.
- A validated self-reported readiness questionnaire, because psychological readiness predicts return as strongly as physical testing does.
Upper-body test days substitute rotator cuff strength ratios, overhead mobility, closed-chain upper extremity stability testing, and sport-specific loading.
What you get
- A written report with every number recorded, side-to-side percentages, and how each result compares to the thresholds used in the research.
- A clear verdict in plain language: ready, ready with restrictions, or not ready yet, with the reason stated.
- If you are not ready, a written program targeting the specific deficits the testing found, with the criteria you need to hit before retesting.
- Video of your landing and movement mechanics so you can see what I am describing.
- A report formatted so you can hand it to a coach, athletic trainer, surgeon, or parent.
What to expect on test day
Plan for 75 minutes. Come warmed up if you can, in athletic clothing and the shoes you actually play in. Expect to work hard, this is a maximal effort session. Expect some soreness the next day, and do not schedule testing the day before a game.
Testing happens at your gym, a track, a field, or a facility with enough open floor to run hop and change-of-direction tests. We sort out the location in advance.
We go through results together at the end of the session, and the written report follows within 48 hours.
Cost, stated plainly
| Service | Length | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Initial consultation | 30 min, in person or virtual | Free |
| Return-to-Sport Testing plus written report | 75 min | $225 |
| Retest after a training block | 60 min | $150 |
| Testing bundled inside a Comprehensive Evaluation | 90 min | Included in the $350 |
Scheduling and cancellation policy
- Sessions are scheduled directly with me, typically weekday afternoons, evenings, or weekends.
- Cancel or reschedule with at least 24 hours notice at no charge.
- Less than 24 hours notice, or a no-show, uses the session or is billed at the single-session rate.
- Prepaid packages are valid for 6 months from the date of purchase.
- Packages are non-refundable once started, but unused sessions can be transferred to another service of equal value.
Frequently asked questions
Is this a medical clearance?
No. I am giving you objective data and a professional opinion, not overriding your surgeon. Formal clearance to return to sport comes from your physician. What this gives you and your physician is actual evidence instead of a guess, which is usually what has been missing.
When should I get tested?
For ACL reconstruction, most people are appropriately tested somewhere between 6 and 9 months post-op, and often again before the start of a season. For other injuries, roughly when you are being told you are ready or when you are about to ramp back into full training. If you are unsure, use the free consultation.
What if I fail?
Then you found out in a controlled setting instead of in a game, which is the entire point. You leave with the specific numbers you fell short on and a program built to close those gaps. Most people need 8 to 12 weeks of targeted work before a retest.
Can you just do the testing without a big evaluation first?
Yes. This is a standalone session. You do not need to be an existing patient and you do not need an evaluation first.
What if I want help closing the gaps you find?
That is what Training with a PT is for, and the testing data becomes your baseline. Your report tells you what to work on either way, whether you do it with me or on your own.
Do you test youth athletes?
Yes, from roughly age 13 up. A parent or guardian needs to be present for anyone under 18, and the report is written so a coach or parent can act on it.
Cash-pay, and why it works this way
Everything on this page is paid directly, not billed to insurance. That is a deliberate choice, not a workaround. It means a full hour of my attention with no prior authorization delays, no visit caps set by a third party, and no treatment decisions shaped by what a payer will reimburse. You know the cost before you walk in.
If you would rather use your insurance benefits, that is a completely reasonable choice and I can still help. I see insurance-based patients at CACC Physical Therapy in Parker, Colorado.
Payment is due at the time of service. I accept card, HSA, and FSA cards. I can provide a superbill on request if you want to submit for out-of-network reimbursement yourself, though I cannot guarantee what your plan will pay.
Ready to start, or still deciding?
The 30-minute consultation is free and carries no obligation. If a different service is the better fit, I will tell you that instead of selling you this one.
More questions? The FAQ page covers logistics, policies, and insurance. You can also read patient success stories or browse the full service list.
Glenn Wellmann DPT 