Sports Medicine

Paige wanted to play Division I soccer since she started playing as a kid. An ACL injury threatened to sideline her at critical time in her sports career. After she was told by another hospital that she couldn't have surgery until her growth plates closed, she went to Cincinnati Children's for a second opinion. With Cincinnati Children's expertise in adolescent bodies, our surgeons were able to complete the surgery safely, getting her back on the field — stronger than ever.

Ryan, a junior at Clark Montessori High School, doesn't let a congenital limb deformity hold him back. He's been playing sports since he was three, and participates in high school football and track. Listen to him talk about why he chooses Cincinnati Children's for all of his sports medicine needs.

When Rani's pain started to affect her ballet dancing, she knew she needed to see a specialist. Find out how Cincinnati Children's helped diagnose and treat her nerve pain so she could keep dancing.

Lexi came to Cincinnati Children's Sports Medicine Biodynamics Center for rehab on a meniscus injury. Lexi was able to build the strength needed to prevent future injury, and is able to play Division I college volleyball without pain or fear.

Maleah, a basketball player at Boone County High School, has a history of ankle issues. She came to Cincinnati Children's and was diagnosed with three torn ligaments in her ankle. Listen to her discuss her treatment plan and why she trusts Cincinnati Children's for her care.

Tyler is a three-sport athlete at LaSalle High School. After a hard hit to the head during a football game, Cincinnati Children's diagnosed him with a mild concussion. Listen to him discuss the personalized approach to treatment, and how the Sports Medicine team got him back on the field safely.

When Katie Landgrebe broke her femur in a tournament soccer game in seventh grade, she came to the Sports Medicine Biodynamics Center at Cincinnati Children's for physical therapy. Researchers at Cincinnati Children's were interested in studying young athletes like Katie. They wanted to know why female athletes were up to six times more likely than boys to tear their ACL, the anterior cruciate ligament that runs through the center of the knee and is one of the primary stabilizers of the joint. Jensen Brent, a biomechanist at Cincinnati Children's and director of the training and injury prevention programs, watched Katie's form and challenged her to work harder. He showed her ways to strengthen her muscles and keep from getting hurt. She continued training while she played on the varsity soccer team as a freshman at Madeira High School. Her coach took notice and got the whole team involved. The training helped lead the team to a winning season. And it helped the sports medicine program at Cincinnati Children's become known not just for helping injured athletes — but also for preventing injuries altogether.

Tori Williams is back on the path to being a top athlete in her sport. Nearly two years she had a bad landing from a jump nearly destroyed her knee, surgery, rehab and determination have built back her strength. Tori, a 14-year-old high school freshman from Northern Kentucky, competes in racing on the slopes and made the Junior Olympic Team last year. Every Monday through Thursday after school during the season, she's at Perfect North Slopes, training with her dad. Last season, just a year after her injury, she already had a remarkable year. "Any time she finished a race, she was on the podium" winning a medal, says her dad, Troy. Tori says she would "love to be an Olympian one day." This is the story of her family's medical journey at Cincinnati Children's.

Zoe Bruce, a competitive gymnast, was practicing on the high bars two years ago when she fell and broke and dislocated both elbows. She had two full arm casts and needed help with everything. "After I injured my arms, it made me realize that I wanted to be a gymnast, that I didn't want to quit," says Zoe, now 11 and back to competing. She credits her doctor, Charles T. Mehlman, DO, MPH, a pediatric orthopaedic trauma surgeon at Cincinnati Children's, for getting her back in the game. In March 2012, she became the Level 6 Ohio state champion at vault and third overall gymnast.

Our team of experts help to make dreams a reality. Through the partnership of the Athletic Training Program at Cincinnati Children’s and the Cincinnati Gymnastics Academy, athletic trainer and former gymnast Sharon Frank was on site at the meet and witnessed Brooke's injury first hand.