What must athletes achieve before resuming full training?

Before resuming full training, athletes must achieve complete healing of the injury. This approach is critical to ensure that the injury has fully recovered and that the affected area can handle the physical demands of training and competition. Resuming activity without full healing can lead to re-injury or exacerbate the existing condition, prolonging recovery time and potentially leading to more severe issues.

While a reduction in pain, physical fitness, and increased flexibility are all important aspects of overall athletic performance and rehabilitation, they do not guarantee that the injury is completely healed. Pain can diminish while some underlying issues persist, and being physically fit does not negate the risk of injury recurrence if the initial injury has not healed correctly. Flexibility only addresses one aspect of physical readiness, but it does not account for the complete healing of the injury itself. Hence, ensuring complete healing is paramount for a safe and effective return to full training.