Phase 2 is characterized by which timing and duration?

• A. 4 days after injury and lasts several weeks
• B. Immediate post-injury phase
• C. Final return to sport
• D. Phase 2 lasts for years

Answer: (A)

Phase 2 is the subacute stage of rehabilitation, occurring after the initial inflammatory response has begun to subside. It typically starts around day 4 after injury and lasts several weeks. In this phase the focus shifts from controlling inflammation to promoting tissue repair and early remodeling. You begin gentle range-of-motion work, introduce controlled strengthening, and start proprioception and functional activities while continuing modalities as needed to support movement, not just rest. The timing and duration fit this transition period—not the immediate post-injury phase, which is the acute stage, nor the final return-to-sport phase, which comes later, nor a span measured in years.