Pediatric Sports Medicine: Sports Physical Therapy for Kids, Youth, and Teens
in East Cobb, minutes from downtown Marietta, Sandy Springs, Roswell
What Is Pediatric Sports Medicine?
From after-school sports and casual recreational activities to elite athletic training, young athletes require comprehensive care to not only maximize performance but also prevent injury. Pediatric sports medicine provides holistic care for each athlete with specialized treatment and attention given to their unique needs and sport’s demands.
It’s important to understand, however, that not every physical therapist is trained in or knowledgeable about pediatric sports medicine. When looking for a PT who can treat your young athlete, you’ll want to look for a therapist who understands the effects of training on growing bodies. The therapist should also have knowledge about and experience with the training methods and rehabilitation techniques that are unique to dealing with pediatric sports injuries.
If you’re looking for a physical therapist specializing in pediatric sports medicine in East Cobb, Marietta, Sandy Springs, or Roswell, Integral PT can help. Our expert team of physical therapists specializes in helping correct the movements of young athletes in order to maximize performance and prevent injury. Contact us today to schedule an appointment or a free 15-minute phone call to see if our practice is a good fit for you.
Sports Therapy For Teens
Athletes of all ages can benefit from a solid support system including their family, teammates, and coach. Young athletes, however, can especially benefit from having a sports physical therapist as a key member of their support team. Physical therapists trained in pediatric sports medicine can be an integral part of teaching young athletes healthy habits that will serve them well throughout their athletic careers. From injury prevention strategies to proper body mechanics and more, these habits can elevate the athlete’s performance and affect their long-term health.
Sports physical therapy for teens addresses:
- Sports-related muscle sprains and strains
- Treatment of overuse injuries and training for future injury prevention
- Post fracture and postoperative rehabilitation to help athletes regain strength and improve performance
- Core strengthening for increased performance and injury reduction
- Areas of isolated weakness or lack of flexibility that elevate the risk of injury or impede performance
- Between season wellness screening and sport-specific or general training to keep athletes in shape during off-seasons and better prepared for busy seasons
- Agility, balance, coordination
- Treatment of sport-specific or general injuries
- Concussion Management including : ImPACT Testing and Rehabilitation
- Treatment of stress urinary incontinence through pelvic floor physical therapy geared towards young athletes
Physical Therapy For Overhead Sports Injuries
Young athletes who participate in sports such as swimming, lacrosse, volleyball, tennis, softball, baseball, or any other discipline that involves repetitive overhead movements are particularly vulnerable to shoulder and elbow injuries. A physical therapist who specializes in pediatric sports medicine is uniquely equipped to treat these injuries, including bursitis, fractures, tendonitis, rotator cuff injuries and more.
Physical therapy for overhead sports injuries focuses on:
- Improving flexibility and range of motion in the affected area
- Decreasing muscle pain and/or spasms
- Muscle-strengthening to repair damaged tissue and prevent future injury
- Muscle stretching to reduce tightness and improve flexibility
- Education regarding proper posture for optimal performance and injury prevention
Physical Therapy For Gymnasts
Gymnasts are known for their acrobatic routines, with jumps, twists, and flips performed both on the ground and in the air. While thrilling to watch, exercises like this often put these athletes at a higher risk for injuries such as dislocated elbows, sprained wrists, anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries in the knee, sprained ankles, Achilles tendonitis, lower back pain, and more.
Primary goals of physical therapy for gymnasts include:
- Identification and retraining of faulty movement patterns to improve performance and reduce injury risk; yearly wellness screens are highly recommended
- Rehabilitation of injuries with a gymnastics medicine focus and sport-specific training
- Pain management through techniques such as dry needling and manual therapy
- Improve flexibility for better performance and injury prevention
- Improve cardio health for endurance and better breathing
- Increase strength of muscles, ligaments, and joints
- Coordination with other health professionals including nutritionists, mental health coaches, and specialized physicians when needed in order to provide holistic care
Physical Therapy For Dancers
Dancers are unique athletes, often beginning their sport at an early age when their bodies are still growing and developing. In addition to physical requirements such as flexibility, dancers of every age face long hours of training and a psychological connection to their sport. Physical therapy from a knowledgeable therapist can help keep dancers in top form or return them to their best form following injury.
Physical therapy for dancers includes:
- Identification and retraining of faulty movement patterns to improve performance and reduce injury risk; yearly wellness screens are highly recommended
- Rehabilitation of injuries with a dance medicine focus and sport-specific training
- Pain management through techniques such as dry needling and manual therapy
- Improve flexibility for better performance and injury prevention
- Improve cardio health for endurance and better breathing
- Increase strength of muscles, ligaments, and joints
- Coordination with other health professionals including nutritionists, mental health coaches, and specialized physicians when needed in order to provide holistic care
Physical Therapy For Headaches
Adolescents often experience headaches which can stem from a variety of factors. Some of the most common causes for teen headaches are dehydration or lack of sleep. Other factors, such as genetic tendencies, food sensitivities, postural problems, or musculoskeletal triggers are less obvious. Our doctors of physical therapy utilize thorough evaluation techniques to uncover the root cause of headaches and can refer the child to other doctors, nutritionists, or healthcare professionals as needed.
Physical therapy for the treatment of headaches includes:
- Identification of the root cause of the headaches
- Evaluation of surrounding areas including the jaw, cervical spine, and shoulders for possible postural or muscle issues
- Treatment of muscle or postural triggers through stretching, strengthening, postural retraining, and muscle release techniques
- Consultation and coordination with other health practitioners to provide a holistic approach and treatment of all identified triggers
Physical Therapy For Back Pain Relief
Teens and tweens are already susceptible to back pain due to faulty posture, increased phone and computer use, muscle overuse, and other factors. Add that to sport-specific requirements and young athletes often present with back pain, the cause of which is not always apparent to the child, coach, or family. A physical therapist trained in pediatric sports medicine will not only treat the symptoms but also identify the triggers so that the athlete can feel better, have function restored, and also prevent future episodes.
Physical therapy for back pain relief in young athletes includes:
- Identification of the root cause of pain
- Manual therapy to relieve pain, including techniques such as dry needling
- Specific stretching and/or strengthening exercises to reduce pain, improve performance, and prevent future injury
- Education about postural strategies for preventing or eliminating back pain
- A sport-specific exercise plan for optimal form and performance