Children's Healthcare of Atlanta pediatric sports physical therapists understand the athletic demands of kids and teens who play competitive sports. And since growing athletes are subject to overuse issues due to sport specialization and year-round sport participation, our team is trained to identify how an injury could limit your athlete's ability to perform. We work to address these issues so your teen can return to sports as quickly and safely as possible after an injury. Our pediatric sports physical therapists also specialize in identifying the proper mechanics of sport-specific movements, helping pinpoint and fix incorrect mechanics. In addition, we teach ways to prevent injuries, keeping your teen in the game and preparing them for a full return to an age-appropriate level of activity and sports participation.
What makes teen sports physical therapy different from adult therapy?
Teen athletes like yours are still growing and developing—in both body and mind. They have very different nutritional, sleep and recovery needs from adults. First of all, most adults do not participate in competitive sports at such high levels of frequency and intensity, so they do not sustain the same types of injuries that teens are likely to sustain. In addition, injuries are unique to young bodies when they occur in the areas of the growth plates—the areas in the bone that allow for growth.
Our pediatric sports physical therapists must first get to know your child. What drives your teen? What sports are they passionate about? What are their goals? Developing this rapport plays a positive role in the outcomes of sports physical therapy. Youth athletes also need more variety and challenge because they can get bored doing the same thing over and over. To prevent this, we help ensure our sports physical therapy is age-appropriate, innovative and stimulating enough to keep your teen engaged throughout the plan of care, all while focused on their recovery.
Our sports physical therapy team understands the sports your teen plays. Our Sports Medicine Program can help athletes who have pain, are injured or want to prevent injury. Our specialists evaluate each athlete's body mechanics and history of injury to create an exercise or therapy plan tailored to their performance goals. We also provide injury prevention tips specific to each athlete’s sport. We have pediatric experts who specialize in:
- Baseball and softball
- Basketball
- Cheerleading
- Dance
- Football
- Golf
- Gymnastics
- Hockey
- Lacrosse
- Running
- Skating
- Soccer
- Swimming
- Tennis
- Volleyball
- Wrestling
How can technology reduce your athlete’s risk of injury?
We use motion analysis technology to help detect mechanical inefficiencies in sport motions. Then we teach the athlete to make corrections that reduce the risk of injury and improve performance.
SCHEDULE A SESSIONThe pediatric sports physical therapists at Children's are licensed healthcare specialists whose goal is to help growing athletes decrease pain and restore or improve movement.
Following an evaluation, our team develops a plan of care for each patient that includes techniques to manage and reduce pain, improve function for everyday activity and return athletes to their sport.
The Children’s sports physical therapy team specializes in treating growing athletes because we only work with kids and teens. Our skilled team recognizes when they are ready to progress to the next level of treatment and know how to motivate them.
Many of our sports physical therapists have advanced certifications.
- Orthopaedic Certified Specialist (OCS): These sports physical therapists are advanced practitioners who are board-certified in orthopedic physical therapy through the American Physical Therapy Association and have demonstrated specialized knowledge, skill and experience in orthopedic care.
- Strength and Conditioning Specialists (CSCS): These sports physical therapists are certified through the National Strength and Conditioning Association in the development and implementation of strength and conditioning programs for specific sports.
- Sports Certified Specialist (SCS): These sports physical therapists are advanced practitioners who are board-certified in sports physical therapy rel="noopener noreferrer" through the American Physical Therapy Association and are considered experts in athletic injury management, including acute care, treatment and rehabilitation, prevention and education.
What kinds of special equipment is used for sports physical therapy?
We often use specialized equipment and technology in sports physical therapy to help in the treatment of our growing athletes. One example is video motion analysis to find and correct sports techniques that may contribute to injuries or affect performance. All of our sports physical therapy gyms feature sport-specific resources like ballet barres, dance floors and mirrors, gymnastics mats, throwing nets, treadmills and more. We manage more than 52,000 sports physical therapy patient visits each year, giving our therapists the experience needed to handle a wide array of athletes, from adolescent swimmers to high school football players.
Did you know sports physical therapy is just part of the picture?
Our pediatric physical therapists are part of a larger sports medicine team that encompasses a complete continuum of care for growing athletes. Our team also includes athletic trainers, sports primary care physicians, and sports surgeons. Working together with sports physical therapists, our line-up of pediatric sports medicine professionals guide athletes from assessment of their injuries through diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation until they can safely return to play.
Our physical therapists who specialize in sports treat athletes at several locations across metro Atlanta. If you think your teen needs physical therapy for their sports injury, contact your pediatrician for a referral.
Sports Medicine Physical Therapy is a department of Children’s at Scottish Rite Hospital.
Children's at Cherokee Sports Medicine
1554 Riverstone Parkway, Suite 160
Canton, GA 30114
Children's at Duluth
2270 Duluth Highway 120
Duluth, GA 30097
Children's at Fayette
1250 Highway 54 West, Suite 200
Fayetteville, GA 30214
Children's at Forsyth
The Collection at Forsyth
410 Peachtree Parkway
Cumming, GA 30041
Children's at Hudson Bridge–Sports Medicine
1496 Hudson Bridge Road
Stockbridge, GA 30281
Children's at Ivy Walk
1675 Cumberland Parkway, Suite 305
Smyrna, GA 30080
Children's at Meridian Mark
5445 Meridian Mark Road NE
Atlanta, GA 30342
Children's at Chantilly Drive
1605 Chantilly Drive NE
Atlanta, GA 30324
Children's at Snellville
2220 Wisteria Drive, Suite 204
Snellville, GA 30078
Children's at Town Center Outpatient Care Center
605 Big Shanty Road NW
Kennesaw, GA 30144
Children's at Webb Bridge
3155 North Point Parkway, Building A, Suite 100
Alpharetta, GA 30005
- Amy Anderson, PT, DPT
- Renata Armendariz, PT, DPT, OCS
- Kyle Clark, PT, DPT, SCS
- Cameron Comerford, PT, DPT
- Andie Daniell, PT, DPT, CSCS
- Jeff Dunahoo, PTA
- Allison Esposito, PT, DPT
- Eddie Fagan, PT, SCS
- Caroline Fabian, PT, DPT, CSCS
- Tori Garman, PT, DPT
- Eugene Hannah, PT
- Suzy Higgins, PT, DPT, PCS
- Sarah Holland, PT, DPT
- Allen Jarratt, PT, DPT, OCS, MTC
- Lita Keeley, PT, DPT
- Kennedy Koonce, PT, DPT
- Pam Kirchner, PTA
- Keith May, PT, DPT, SCS, ATC, CSCS
- Blair McClanahan, PT, DPT
- Jennifer Meyer, PT, DPT
- Taylor Middleton, PT, DPT
- Kat Moriles, PT, DPT
- Amelia Neal, PT, DPT
- Anna Nowlan, PT, DPT, SCS
- Megan Pastore, PT, DPT, OCS, SCS
- Tatiana Paz, PT, DPT, SCS
- Alea Penner, PT, DPT, SCS
- Jeannie Perkis, PT, DPT, ATC, OCS, SCS
- Aaliyah Pettway, PT, DPT
- Austin Posey, PT, DPT
- Jessica Satterfield, PT, DPT, CMTPT
- Kyle Shumeyko, PT, DPT
- Allison Smith, PT, DPT, MTC, ATC
- Lillian Stamps, PT, DPT
- Ashton Stone, PT, DPT
- Brian Taglieri, PT, DPT, MTC, CSCS
- Anzika Tuliva, PT, DPT, OCS
- Olydia Walker, PT, DPT, ATC
- Brandon Whitworth, PT, DPT, OCS, SCS, CSCS
- Erin Zoch, PT, DPT, OCS, CMPT
Sports physical therapy management
- Julie Johnson, PT, MPT, SCS, CSCS, Clinical Manager, Sports Physical Therapy
- Sarah Ball, Clinical Coordinator, Sports Physical Therapy
Contact Us 404-785-8660