Let’s be real—sitting on the sidelines sucks. Whether you’re missing the playoffs, an important game or just your weekly training sessions, being injured can feel like everything’s on pause. One of the first questions we hear from athletes after an injury is:
“How long until I can play again?”
It’s a fair question—but unfortunately, the answer isn’t always simple. Injury recovery time isn’t one-size-fits-all. Your body’s ability to heal depends on a number of factors—some you can control, and some you can’t. Here’s what plays a role:
- Severity of the injury – A minor sprain? You might be back quickly. A full tear? That’s a longer road.
- Age – Younger athletes tend to heal faster thanks to quicker cell regeneration.
- Existing medical conditions – Things like diabetes, anemia, or cardiovascular disease can slow the healing process.
- Smoking or alcohol use – These reduce blood flow and oxygen delivery, both crucial for recovery.
- Blood supply to the area – Some body parts (like tendons) don’t get much blood flow, making recovery slower.
- Nutrition – If your body doesn’t get the nutrients it needs, it can’t rebuild tissue properly.
- Previous injuries – An old injury to the same area can make healing trickier.
Further to these factors, different structures of the body have different healing timelines:
Tissue types: | Range of time for healing: |
Muscle | Grade I: 2-4 weeks Grade II: 8-16 week Grade III: 9-12 Months |
Tendon | Acute: 2-6 weeks Sub-acute: 2-4 Months Chronic: 3-9 Months Surgical repair/Tear or rupture: 4-12 months |
Bone | 6-12 weeks |
Ligaments | Grade I: 2-8 weeks Grade II:2-6 Months Grade III: 6-12 month ACL Graft: 12+ months |
Cartilage | 9-24 months |
Nerve | Regrowth rate: 3-4 mm/day |
It’s important to understand that healing isn’t always a straight line—and it definitely isn’t the same for everyone. Every injury is unique, and so is every athlete. While seeking care can help relieve pain, it does much more than that: it sets the stage for your body to actually heal.
The good news? You’re not in this alone. With a proper rehab plan, a commitment to injury recovery, and smart choices both in and out of training, you can give your body the best chance to heal faster, stronger, and more fully.
Our goal is to help you return—not just to sport—but to your best version of it. We’ll walk with you every step of the way so you can get back in the game with confidence. BOOK your appointment with us today!