Sports medicine physical therapy

Children's Wisconsin offers sports medicine physical therapy services for active kids and teens. We specialize in sports-related orthopedic acute, chronic and overuse injuries.

Each clinic provides therapy within a 3,000-square-foot gym equipped with state-of-the-art and sport specific equipment including a basketball lane, pitching and batting nets, plyometric, speed and agility space, squat racks and weight training equipment. Focused therapy programs help kids return to their sports and recreational activities by emphasizing:

• Agility
• Balance
• Competitive performance
• Concussion recovery
• Endurance
• Mobility
• Power
• Speed
• Strength
• Dry needling
• Manual therapy
• Manipulation/mobilization techniques

Conditions we treat 

• Sports injuries
• Pain and decreased mobility
• Fractures and acute traumatic injuries
• Pre and post-surgical care
• Gait and postural abnormalities
• Chronic pain and dysfunction related to previous injury
• ACL injuries 
• Idiopathic juvenile and adolescent scoliosis
• Acute and chronic neck and back pain
• Spondylolysis and spondylolisthesis
• Radicular pain including nerve and disc injury
• Growth and overuse related injuries
• Brain injury and concussion

Treatment

Our sports physical therapists are experienced clinicians who understand the unique demands of sports and tailor treatment accordingly. They often collaborate with specialty teams including sports medicine, orthopedics, psychology, neurosciences and various therapies to ensure all aspects of a patient's care is considered and treated appropriately. Sports physical therapy treatment plans may include:

• Therapeutic exercise targeting mobility, stability, balance, flexibility, and strength improvements
• Sport specific rehabilitation including return to sport assessment, injury prevention techniques and performance enhancement in our state-of-the-art sports rehabilitation clinics
• Manual therapy techniques including soft tissue mobilization such as therapeutic massage and myofascial release (hands-on therapy to improve muscle and tissue mobility), joint and spine mobilization and manipulation, trigger point dry needling, and neurodynamic mobilization (uses specific movement patterns to improve the mobility of the nerves in the injured area).
• All-inclusive approach to pain management including education on the neuroscience of pain, modalities such as ultrasound, hypervolt percussion massage, electrical stimulation for pain relief, kinesiotaping techniques
• A holistic approach to other factors affecting pain such as sleep hygiene, nutrition, ergonomics, physical activity, and wellness
• Comprehensive post-concussion rehabilitation addressing head, neck, cardiovascular, vestibular and ocular system complications and guidance towards a safe return to school, activity and sports

Specialty services

Sports specific rehabilitation:

• Comprehensive ACL rehabilitation with specific return to sport focus
• Dance medicine program specifically targeting unique requirements for dancers
• Running analysis with individually tailored treatment plan
• Throwing mechanics assessment and correction

Comprehensive spine care

• All-inclusive education on spinal condition and management with assessment, evaluation and treatment specific to patient’s unique presentation
• Scoliosis-specific exercise performed by Schroth certified clinical expert in state-of-the- art spine specific rehabilitation space
• Evidence based approach to management of spondylolysis and spondylolisthesis including multi-phase protocol designed for returning athletes to prior levels of sports participation after injury

Posture, Gait and Motion Analysis

• Biodex isokinetic testing – used to measure muscle strength and inform return to activity decisions
• Quantec and Diers Formetric Assessment – creates a three-dimensional model of trunk, spine and pelvis and how it changes with adjustments in posture and movement
• Real-time assessment of patient’s gait using biomarkers to determine appropriate treatment intervention

Dry needling

• Pain and trigger point management