Table 1

A hypothetical example of applying the Strategic Assessment of Risk and Risk Tolerance (StARRT) framework for return-to-play (RTP) decision-making across different short-term and long-term outcomes

OutcomeRisk assessment, %Risk toleranceDecision
Short-term
 ReinjuryUnder 10AcceptableRTP
 Pain50–70AcceptableRTP
 Work disability20–30Not acceptableNo RTP
 ↓Performance20–40AcceptableRTP
Long term
 Osteoarthritis2AcceptableRTP
 Disability2AcceptableRTP
 Cost prohibitive1AcceptableRTP
  • The final decision imposes the most limiting restrictions of all the outcomes (No RTP in this example).