Editorial: Advancements in injury rehabilitation and return-to-sport practices

Sports injury rehabilitation should be sports-and condition-specific, address muscle and functional performance, and consider the joint health, while tissue type and mechanism should be considered in return to sport and injury prevention strategies.In the following section we outline an overview of recent research on common conditions such as patellofemoral pain (PFP), anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) and the athletic hip, which provides valuable insights into condition-specific rehabilitation approaches and recovery trajectories, and we outline an overview describing the importance of incorporating injury tissue type and mechanism into prevention strategies.Patellofemoral pain remains one of the most common injuries among runners, with muscle strengthening being an important component for stage-specific rehabilitation and return to sport.Evidence from recent research in PFP by He et al. (2025) indicates that quadriceps strength varies according to the duration of symptoms, with individuals exhibiting reduced strength in the short-term (< 3 months) but not in the long-term (>12 months). Interestingly, He et al. (2025) found that individuals with long-term symptom duration demonstrated comparable strength levels to healthy controls. In contrast, hamstring strength, hamstring-to-quadriceps ratios, and muscle symmetry appear largely unaffected by PFP duration (He et al., 2025). Although limitations exist-particularly the use of single-velocity isokinetic testing and concentric-only contractions-these findings enhance our understanding of strength adaptations across PFP stages and may guide more targeted, stagespecific rehabilitation strategies. With a high rate of hip and groin re-injuries, the authors stress there is a need for effective secondary and tertiary prevention strategies (Bizzini et al., 2025).Addressing the injury by tissue type and mechanism during the rehabilitation process may enable implementation of better injury preventative strategies to reduce re-injury risks. A recent narrative review on a synthesis of football injury types and prevention strategies by Zeng et al. ( 2025) proposed a theoretical basis for understanding injuries in athletes. As proposed by Zeng et al. (2025), skeletal muscle injuries, including muscle fiber and tendon injuries, may be mitigated through eccentric strength training, whereas joint injuries such as ligament damage and muscle imbalances require emphasis on neuromuscular control. Degenerative injuries demand systematic, often long-term management, with surgical intervention considered when appropriate and followed by individualized rehabilitation. Accidental injuries, including concussions and fractures, can be reduced through protective equipment, rule modifications, structured training programs and enhanced safety education. The authors conclude that by ensuring injury prevention strategies are mechanismspecific, injury risk in sports may be reduced (Zeng et al., 2025).Equally important-but often underemphasized-is the psychological dimension of RTS. In the following section we outline findings from two recent studies that emphasized the significance of psychological considerations in return to sport and injury prevention. 2025) recently reported higher psychological readiness associated with reduced kinesiophobia among adolescents and young adults 6 -12 months following ACLR, although nearly half of athletes from both groups reported poor psychological readiness. These findings underscore the need for targeted psychological interventions during rehabilitation to improve psychological readiness for return to sport. The authors recommend future research should further explore the influence of sex and age on emotional responses, confidence, and risk appraisal, while accounting for variability in rehabilitation protocols, surgical details, and actual RTS outcomes (Butler et al., 2025).In conclusion, while sports injuries may be inevitable, recurrent injuries are not. We presented evidence from six recent articles included in this topic on knowledge in injury rehabilitation and return to sport practices, advocating for a holistic rehabilitation model that integrates physical, psychological, and social factors alongside evidence-based physiotherapy. Such an approach not only supports a successful return to sport, but also reduces the risk of long-term re-injury, psychological distress, and performance decline. The ultimate goal of rehabilitation is not merely returning to sport-but returning well, and with injury-free participation and performance enhancement over time.Barzyk, P., Fiedler, C., Schlag, M., Heitner, A., Bender, J., & Paul, J. (2026)