Contemporary rehabilitation strategies and performance in high-performance sports: A bibliographical review

Abstract

Introduction: Rehabilitation and performance optimization in high-performance athletes are essential to prevent injuries, enhance sports performance, and preserve musculoskeletal health. The integration of physical therapy protocols with medical follow-up and multidisciplinary strategies allows maximizing functional gains and promoting safety during training and competition. Objective: A bibliographic review was conducted to analyze contemporary strategies for rehabilitation and performance in high-performance sports, emphasizing the role of physical therapy, interdisciplinary integration, and effects on strength, mobility, balance, and injury prevention. Methods: This is a descriptive and analytical bibliographic review based on national and international publications available in the Virtual Health Library (BVS), which gathers scientific and technical health literature from Latin American and Caribbean countries; the Latin American and Caribbean Health Sciences Literature (LILACS), which includes regional scientific production in health; the United States National Library of Medicine (PubMed), an international reference database for biomedical sciences; and Scopus, a multidisciplinary scientific literature database. Articles published between 2022 and 2025 were included, totaling 10 studies selected based on their relevance to physical therapy, rehabilitation protocols, and sports performance. Results: The literature showed that structured physical therapy programs, combined with medical supervision and multidisciplinary strategies, promote significant improvements in muscle strength, joint mobility, functional balance, and sports performance. Individualized interventions, sport-specific functional training, resistance exercises, dynamic mobility, and supervised home-based programs reduced injury risk and optimized recovery. Adherence to protocols, support from the technical team, and educational guidance were critical determinants of positive outcomes. The findings indicate that rehabilitation in high-performance sports relies on multifactorial approaches, with physical therapy serving as the central pillar, enhanced by medical supervision and interdisciplinary collaboration. Integrated strategies allow protocol personalization, complication reduction, performance maximization, and maintenance of musculoskeletal health. Conclusion: Contemporary strategies for rehabilitation and performance in high-performance sports should combine intensive physical therapy, medical monitoring, and educational practices. Individualized protocols have proven effective in improving strength, mobility, balance, injury prevention, and performance, highlighting the importance of integrated, evidence-based approaches.