If your child has anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) surgery, we offer group classes as part of their rehabilitation. Your child will work with others in group sessions on jumping, biomechanics, and cardiovascular training before returning to sport.

Biomechanical analysis means looking at the way your child moves. Our PT will watch your child do the normal actions for their sport, like throwing a baseball or kicking a soccer ball. If the PT sees a movement pattern that may cause a problem, they figure out the reason. For example, your child may need to build more strength in some muscles or get better at some skills. The PT designs your child’s rehab plan based on this analysis.

Before surgery for a sports injury, your child may see a PT to learn what to expect. The PT explains the plan for helping your child heal and return to sports (rehabilitation, or rehab, plan). Then the PT teaches your child exercises they will need to do. After surgery, your child comes back to work with a PT on exercises and progressions to prepare them for return to sports.

Group exercise classes to strengthen your child’s spine and trunk muscles may help your child return to activity without pain and lower their risk of future injury. We also work on endurance and stretching. We will give your child a home exercise program to follow.

Before your child goes back to sports after an injury, a PT tests them to make sure they are ready. This helps reduce the risk of injury or reinjury. The tests check your child’s strength, balance and movement and how long they can be active (endurance).

This form of physical therapy may keep the abnormal spinal curve from getting worse in some children with scoliosis. It may have other benefits, too, such as better posture, strength, flexibility and breathing. It may also improve the results of bracing and prevent or delay surgery. Your child learns and practices exercises at visits with a PT and does them at home each day. Read more about the Schroth method for scoliosis treatment (PDF).

Tape, straps, sleeves and braces can support an injured body part or take the pressure off it as it heals. Sports PTs also use these aids to help athletes be more aware of their posture and movement as they get back to the activities that they love. This can help your child heal now and avoid injuries later.

This is a special form of exercise-based therapy to reduce vertigo, dizziness, gaze instability, balance problems and fall risk. It can also help with problems that might develop due to a vestibular condition, like muscle weakness, trouble walking or coordination issues. VRT uses specific activities to help your child move in safe ways. Based on the cause of the condition, your child might see a sports PT, physical therapist or occupational therapist.