title: Return-to-play: a primary care physician's guide to management.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In the primary care clinic, allowing young athletes to return to play following injuries and illnesses can be a challenging balancing act between promoting speed of recovery while still allowing for full recovery and prevention of future injuries or complications.
  
  
  METHODS
  A literature review of relevant return-to-play articles was performed for musculoskeletal injuries, concussions, and infectious mononucleosis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We identified several evidence-based approaches to allowing athletes to return to activity following injuries and illnesses. The majority of return-to-play recommendations found were expert opinion-based.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Evidence does exist for primary care providers to assist in guiding their athletic patients back to activity, but it is limited in quantity and quality. The decision to return-to-play is complex, and is best individualized for the patient. Existing guidelines can assist in management; however, only as an adjunct to the clinical decision of a well-informed physician practicing patient-centered medical care.
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: List
authors.forename: Zach
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Nolz
authors.forename: Wesley
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Nord
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Huntington
mesh_terms: D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D001924:Brain Concussion / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D007244:Infectious Mononucleosis / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D009141:Musculoskeletal System / Q000293:injuries*; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000379:methods*; D013177:Sports