Sports Physical Therapy

Sports Physical Therapy Overview

For children facing sports injuries, physical therapy can offer an opportunity to minimize lost playing time and optimize return performance.

The sports physical therapy program at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center is designed to meet the needs of the young athlete. From personalized sports physical therapy regimens to rehabilitation following injury and surgery, our sports-experienced physical therapists help young athletes get back in the game quickly and safely.

Customized to each child's need

At Cincinnati Children's, we believe children and teens are not just little adults. Our specialists understand how a child's musculoskeletal development must guide the rehabilitation process to provide safe and effective treatment.

The sports physical therapy program at Cincinnati Children's focuses on helping young athletes regain mobility and muscle strength through a multi-pronged approach.

Each athelete is evaluated to determine their needs. Therapists evaluate muscle strength, joint range of motion, reflexes, posture and gait.

Customized treatment helps each child maximize his or her potential with the latest combination of pediatric rehabilitation techniques.
Ongoing consultations with the athlete, family, parents, coaches and physician ensure appropriate intervention for the child.
Sports injury prevention and follow-up education help the athlete minimize reinjury.

Sports physical therapy can benefit young athletes who suffer from:

Overuse
Trauma
ACL injury and reconstruction
Meniscus tears of the knee
Shoulder impingement, subluxation, and dislocation
Rotator cuff tears and repairs
Patella pain and subluxation
Tennis and golfer's elbow
Joint sprains and strains
Tendonitis
Other sports related injuries

Therapeutic exercises and mobility training to increase endurance, muscle strength, range of motion and muscle flexibiity help each child reach their potential. We also work with doctors, biomechanists and other specialists to optimize a child's participation in sports and other activities.

Family-centered care

Our physical therapists believe strongly in the power of family encouragement and involvement. Parents or those close to the child are encouraged to attend therapy sessions.