Cleared by doctor does not mean good to go

To see the video version check out our instagram page:

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DMcJBNZzAQS/?igsh=bXZmNndobnp2cnls

If you’ve ever had the misfortune of getting injured, you know the relief and excitement that comes when your doctor finally says you’re “cleared to return.” It’s natural to feel eager—sometimes too eager—to jump straight back into your usual sport or activity.

But here’s what many people don’t realize: being cleared simply means that, structurally, your muscle, ligament, or bone has healed well enough that it’s safe to start building back up. It doesn’t mean it’s ready to handle your normal workload yet.

A scan might show that your tissue has healed, but healing and capacity are two different things. Returning to full activity safely requires a gradual, graded build-up. This gives your body time to regain the strength, resilience, and tolerance for stress that it needs—not just to avoid re-injuring the same spot, but to prevent new injuries elsewhere that can happen when your body compensates for weak or underprepared areas.

So if you’ve been cleared—fantastic. But treat that clearance as the green light to start rebuilding smartly, not to sprint straight back to where you left off. A little patience now can save you a lot of pain later.

#tokyo #physio #physiotherapist #physicaltherapy #physicaltherapist #physiotherapy #sport