Injury and disability in the professional athlete.

An injury at work affects the professional athlete more than his nonathlete counterpart because it may portend the end of his playing career. The pertinent issues that concern the injured athlete are initial assessment of the injury, regulations governing treatment and rehabilitation of the injury, criteria for return-to-play status, determination of permanent impairment, and the athlete's rights. Permanent impairment determination procedures and compensation mechanisms are well established in each of the major professional leagues in the United States.