Why “Cleared to Play” Doesn’t Always Mean Ready for Sport Your athlete finished physical therapy. The doctor says, “You’re cleared.” Everyone breathes a sigh of relief. But here’s the truth most families don’t hear: Completing physical therapy does NOT automatically mean your athlete is ready to return to sport. It usually means they’ve returned to baseline function , not peak performance, not full resilience, and not full readiness for the speed and chaos of competition. A