Sports Medicine Program for Young Athletes

Colorado’s only sports medicine program focused exclusively on young athletes

Our experts treat children and teens with sports injuries

The Children’s Hospital Sports Medicine Program for Young Athletes provides comprehensive assessment, treatment and expert advice for children and teens with injuries and conditions that affect sports performance. We are the only sports medicine program in Colorado focused solely on the care of young athletes, and our unique team consists of sports medicine experts who are specifically trained and qualified to care for young competitive athletes.

We understand the demands and pressures that school-aged athletes face as they play sports, and we believe that they need to be managed differently than their adult counterparts.

Our multidisciplinary team of experts has a depth of knowledge that makes The Children’s Hospital the best choice for young athletes’ needs. A skilled sports medicine specialist can make a significant impact on the outcome after a sports injury, including positive long-term emotional and physical benefits.

Need an appointment? We have same-day or next-day appointment availability.

Conditions we treat

With increased demands placed on a growing skeleton, young athletes are particularly prone to musculoskeletal injury. We offer expert treatment for a broad range of acute and chronic sports injuries, including:

• Fractures and sprains
• Knee, shoulder and joint pain
• Shoulder separations and dislocations
• Torn ligaments (ACL tear)
• Overuse injuries
• Hip pain and injuries

Services and treatments

As the only program focused solely on young athletes in the Rocky Mountains, we provide a full spectrum of care including:

• Treatment of acute and chronic injuries to promote quick recovery
• Procedures such as:
  • ACL reconstruction
  • Shoulder stabilization
  • Arthroscopy
  • Cartilage restoration
• Advanced, minimally invasive surgical techniques tailored for the young athlete
• Advanced techniques for hip impingement
• Sports medicine physical therapy for all age groups
• Multidisciplinary care with Children’s Hospital resources including:
  • Orthopedics and orthopedic surgery
  • The Center for Gait and Motion Analysis
  • Sportsmetrics (.pdf) - teaches female athletes the correct way to jump and land in order to prevent knee injury and enhance performance
  • Asthma and breathing specialists
  • Adolescent medicine
  • Radiology
  • Comprehensive concussion program
  • Nutrition and weight management
  • Adolescent and young adult hip preservation program
• Injury prevention programs to reduce injury risk in sports
• Community education programs on a variety of topics
• Involvement in local youth sports providing medical coverage to keep athletes safe while playing sports
• Wide range of convenient clinic locations
• Same day or next day appointment availability

Why would my child need a sports medicine specialist?

Your doctor may refer your child to a sports medicine specialist if there is a question about the diagnosis of an injury or if the athlete is not responding to initial treatment. Our sports medicine specialists will review the original diagnosis and either clarify the problem or tailor the rehabilitation program to ensure as rapid a recovery as possible.

Injuries in children can occur at areas of growth in the bone, commonly referred to as growth plates or growth centers. The growth plates that add length to the bone are located at the ends of the long bones. Serious injuries, especially injuries involving the growth plate, need special attention from an expert in sports medicine.

A specialist also is helpful if it’s uncertain whether the young athlete can safely return to competitive sports.

Why is a sports medicine specialist trained in pediatrics so important?

The Sports Medicine team at The Children’s Hospital has broad pediatric experience, which ensures accurate diagnoses as well as more comprehensive treatment plans.

Accounting for a patient’s age is a critical step in making the proper diagnosis. The impact on a young person’s growth is also an essential consideration when designing a treatment and rehabilitation program that ensures they get healthy quickly and back to an active lifestyle.

Rehabilitation with emphasis on growth

The broad and practical experience of our staff helps us plan rehabilitation programs appropriate for each patient’s age. Our team understands how an injury might impact growth, or how growth might impact rehabilitation.

Since we’re The Children’s Hospital, the sports medicine program uses technologies and equipment specifically designed for all sizes of children, youth, teens and young adults.