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Sports Medicine for Young Athletes
“What should a young athlete eat before they compete?” “When is it safe for a young athlete to start lifting weights?” “What are some tips to prevent injuries?” Visit the Children’s Hospital Colorado resources below for tips and recommendations on how to help your young athlete excel both on and off the field.
Children’s Hospital Colorado’s nationally renowned team, which is consistently ranked among the top 10 pediatric orthopedic programs in the nation by U.S. News and World Report, treats all types of orthopedic conditions, from common breaks and sprains and sports injuries, to complex spinal deformities and bone cancers.
Quick Links:
• Sign up for the Sports Blog today!
• New Website for Patients and Families
• Check out these helpful videos including tips on stretching for young athletes.
• Parenting Resource Page
Sports Blog:
Need advice for your young athlete. Visit Colorado Sport Stop, a new sports medicine blog featuring tips from Children’s Hospital Colorado’s pediatric experts. What to eat when you’re athlete is on the go; sports drinks vs. energy drinks; what to pack in your team’s first aid kit. Visit the blog today for the latest advice and sports trends!
New Orthopedics Website for Patients and Families:
The Orthopedics Institute at Children’s Hospital Colorado has launched a new website, which helps patients and families learn more about our treatments for common orthopedic conditions and injuries. The website introduces parents to the integrated Pediatric Orthopedics, Orthopedic Surgery, Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation Medicine programs at Children’s Colorado.
A special Sports Medicine section of the website features an interactive way to learn about sports-related injuries caused by sports like basketball, cheerleading, hockey and more. The site educates athletes, parents and coaches about nutrition and injury prevention, and provides treatment resources if injuries do happen.
In addition to being able to search by body area and condition/injury, users can find information about our:
• Programs and clinics
• Tests
• Doctors
• Facilities
• Locations
You can also read stories about real patients and find helpful information to plan your visit.
Videos
• Stretching Part 1 - Don’t miss a great video interview with Nathan Estrada, sports medicine therapist, and Cameron, REAL Colorado Soccer player, on dynamic stretching and how to prepare young athletes for workouts.
• Stretching Part 2 - In Part 2 of our video series with Nathan Estrada, sports medicine therapist for Children’s Hospital Colorado’s Outpatient Specialty Care in Parker, Colorado, talks about static stretching with Cameron, a REAL Colorado soccer player. Static stretching increases flexibility and range of motion to help young athletes perform fine motor skills at the end of a workout or practice.
• Concussions - Meet Gabbie. During a competitive soccer game, 13-year-old Gabbie fearlessly challenged an opponent to defend her team's goal. The ball flew directly at her head; knocking her off her feet and leaving the stitched Nike swoosh imprinted on the side of her face. Unaware of the severity of the head injury, she was allowed to continue normal physical activity, even participating in soccer practice. Although her symptoms were atypical, she should have been medically evaluated and sidelined. Find out more about her story.
Parenting Resource Page
Go to childrenscolorado.org/welcome to sign up for the parenting tips newsletter, Shine, and for other parent-popular resources including our free iPhone app and 9 News Ask the Expert archives!
