Rehab & Recovery Protocols

Protocols designed by specialists to bridge the gap between injury and performance

Acute Phase (Phase 0) Guide

⚠️ ACUTE PHASE (0-48 HOURS)

If your injury happened in the last 48 hours, follow the P.O.L.I.C.E. protocol before starting the movements below.

The 24-Hour Acute Injury Protocol (P.O.L.I.C.E.)

  • Protection: Use the Axis Flex Guard or Shoulder Guard to prevent further tissue damage.
  • O.L. Optimal Loading: Gentle movement within a pain-free range.
  • Ice: 15 minutes every 2 hours to manage secondary hypoxic injury.
  • Compression: Apply an Axis Kinetic Sleeve to manage edema (swelling).
  • Elevation: Keep the injured limb above heart level.

Axis Rehab P.O.L.I.C.E. Infographic

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Axis Rehab | Phase 1 Recovery Protocols | Mobility

Your bridge from injury to performance. These Phase 1 guides are designed to be used in the first 1–2 weeks of your recovery journey.

1. Spinal Alignment & Posture

Target: Thoracic Kyphosis & "Tech Neck" & Lumbar Instability

Equipment: Axis Posture Pro or Biofeedback Sensor

  • Scapular Squeezes: While wearing your brace, imagine pinching a pencil between your shoulder blades. Hold for 5 seconds. Repeat 10 times.
  • Chin Tucks: Gently tuck your chin in (creating a 'double chin') to stretch the base of your skull. Hold for 3 seconds. Repeat 10 times.
  • Doorway Chest Stretch: Place your forearms on a door frame and lean forward slightly to open up the chest muscles.
  • Pelvic Tilts: Lying on your back with knees bent, gently flatten your lower back against the floor by bracing your deep core. Hold for 5 seconds. Repeat 10 times to decompress the lumbar discs.

Full Digital Guide: Click here for the expanded Phase 1 Spinal Reset

2. Ankle Stability & Ligament Loading

Target: Lateral Ligament Sprains & Weakness, Chronic Instability & Plantar fasciitis

Equipment: Axis Flex Guard or Soft Touch Mobility Loops

  • Toe Curls & Spreads: While seated, crunch your toes together as if picking up a towel, then spread them wide. Repeat 15 times to activate the intrinsic foot muscles
  • Single-Leg Stance: Stand on your injured leg (wear your stabilizer for safety and lateral support). Hold for 30 seconds to "wake up" stabilizing muscles and re-educate proprioceptors.
  • Ankle Alphabet: Lift your foot and "write" the alphabet in the air with your big toe to restore controlled mobility.
  • Resisted Eversion: Loop a Light Mobility Band around the outside of your foot. Push your foot outward against the resistance. Repeat 10 times to strengthen the peroneal muscles.

Full Digital Guide: Click here for the expanded Phase 1 Ankle & Foot Protocol

3. Hip, Groin & Sciatic Decompression

Target: Sciatica, Labral Tears & Strains, Piriformis Syndrome & Adductor Strains

Equipment: Axis Sciatica & Labral Stabilizer

  • Pelvic Tilts: Lying on your back, gently flatten your lower back against the floor by bracing your core. Hold for 5 seconds to decompress the lower lumbar nerve roots.
  • Gentle Knee-to-Chest: While wearing the Axis Sciatica Stabilizer, slowly pull your knee toward your chest until a light glute stretch is felt. This offloads the acetabular labrum. Avoid "pinching" in the groin.
  • Seated Nerve Glides: Sit tall and slowly straighten your knee until you feel a light "tug" behind the leg, then flex your foot back toward you. This promotes neural mobility without over-stretching the sciatic nerve.

Full Digital Guide: Click here for the expanded Phase 1 Hip & Sciatic Protocol

4. Knee Stability & VMO Activation

Target: Patellar Tracking, Ligament Laxity & General Instability

Equipment: Axis-360 Pro Knee Stabilizer

  • Quad Sets (Isometric Activation): While seated with your leg straight, contract your thigh muscle to push the back of your knee into the floor. Hold for 5 seconds. Repeat 10 times.
  • Terminal Knee Extension (TKE): Standing with a light resistance band looped behind your knee, slowly straighten your leg against the tension to fully engage the "teardrop" muscle. Repeat 15 times.
  • Straight Leg Raises: Lying on your back with the Axis-360 sleeve on, keep your knee locked and lift the leg 12 inches. Hold for 2 seconds. Repeat 10 times.

Full Digital Guide: Click here for the expanded Phase 1 Knee Protocol

5. Shoulder Mobility & Rotator Cuff Centration

Target: Rotator Cuff Tears, Impingement Syndrome & Frozen Shoulder

Equipment: Axis Shoulder Guard or Posture Pro

  • Pendulums: Lean over a table. Let your arm hang dead weight. Gently swing it in small circles to "open" the joint space. Repeat 20 times.
  • Scapular Retraction: While wearing your brace, squeeze your shoulder blades down and back (as if putting them in your back pockets). Hold 5 seconds.
  • Isometric External Rotation: With your elbow at 90 degrees, push the back of your hand into a wall. Hold for 5 seconds without moving the joint.

Full Digital Guide: Click here for the expanded Phase 1 Shoulder Protocol

6. Wrist Decompression & Nerve Gliding

Target: Carpal Tunnel, Repetitive Strain (RSI) & Tendonitis

Equipment: Axis Dual-Action Wrist Wraps

  • Prayer Stretch: Press palms together in front of your chest. Slowly lower your hands toward your waist until a light stretch is felt in the wrists. Hold 20 seconds.
  • Tendon Glides: Move your hand through five positions: straight hand, hook fist, full fist, tabletop, and straight fist. This clears "stuck" tendons.
  • Finger Extensions: Place a rubber band around your fingers and thumb. Spread them wide against the resistance. Repeat 15 times.

Full Digital Guide: Click here for the expanded Phase 1 Wrist Protocol

LOCKED CONTENT: PHASE 2 & 3

Ready for Phase 2 & 3?

Axis Rehab | Phase 2 Recovery Protocols | Functional Loading

Axis Rehab | Phase 3 Recovery Protocols | Performance

🔒 Advanced strengthening and return-to-sport protocols are included exclusively with your Axis equipment.

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