Sports Medicine Center at Children’s Hospital Colorado

Our Sports Medicine Center leads the region in state-of-the-art treatment for developing athletes. From maximizing your diet to changing the game in concussion research, our agile, fully integrated team of physicians, athletic trainers, physical therapists, dieticians and specialists delivers a full-service care experience geared exclusively to growing bodies, and it’s all backed by one of the best pediatric hospitals in the U.S.

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Watch ballerina Caroline's story to learn how our Spine Program helped treat her scoliosis to keep her on the dance floor.

From dancing to baseball, we work with athletes from every sport, learn more about the sports injuries we treat.

What makes our program unique?

At Children’s Colorado, our board-certified sports medicine experts specialize in treating growing athletes. Because our team is specially trained in pediatrics, we understand how an injury may impact growth, or how growth might impact rehabilitation. We also offer supportive care in collaboration with top specialists in areas like sports nutrition and sports psychology.

Our program offers pediatric-specific resources like x-ray and MRI machines, operating rooms, and dedicated sports therapy gyms. And, through the Center for Gait and Movement Analysis we offer unique research opportunities, including studies on how 3-D motion capture may be used to help optimize sports performance.

Beyond the clinic, experts from our Sports Medicine Center are active in the community through various education and advocacy events. We offer community-based support by staffing certified athletic trainers at regional high schools, as well as multiple youth sports organizations. We are active in numerous parent workshops and coaches’ trainings to provide valuable sports safety education information in an effort to improve safety across the state.

Why the team approach?

Accurate assessment and age-appropriate therapies are very important when treating young athletes who are still growing and developing as they recover from and manage an injury.

Using our team’s collective pediatric expertise, we’re able to develop an integrated treatment plan for each patient. This team approach compliments each athlete’s situation and facilitates their rehabilitation back into sports.

Why choose Sports Medicine Center at Children’s Colorado?

The combination of pediatric sports medicine expertise, dedicated pediatric facilities and state-of-the-art technology at Children’s Colorado is unique in our region. Plus, our same-day or next-day appointments at locations throughout Colorado help us return players to their sport as safely and quickly as possible.

What services does Sports Medicine Center offer?

Our multidisciplinary team coordinates care from diagnosis through rehabilitation and returning to play. We even help young athletes condition to prevent future injury. 

• Same-day or next-day appointments at locations throughout Colorado five days a week
• Sports physical therapy services, including three dedicated sports therapy gyms that  offer appointments until 7pm
• Concussion diagnosis, management and direct collaboration with our Concussion Program for return-to-play evaluation and guidance
• Fracture management with same-day x-rays, splinting and casting for broken bones
• Dedicated sports medicine surgeons, dually trained in pediatric orthopedic surgery and sports medicine
• Consultations regarding sports nutrition, sports psychology, sports related breathing issues, injury related complications, and return to sport evaluations
• Sports nutrition consultation offerings personalized for the young athlete to optimize their sports performance
• Community education for primary care providers, parents, athletic directors, coaches and athletic trainers
• Opportunities to participate in innovative research projects focused on understanding the efficacy of different treatment approaches for youth sports injuries

How to schedule an appointment

To schedule an appointment or for more information, please call 720-777-3899. We are happy to consult with parents or referring providers before a patient is seen at Children’s Colorado.

Insurance benefits and referrals

Some insurance companies require a referral from a primary care provider before appointments can be arranged. Once a referral is in place, most insurance companies will cover specialty care visits for patients with concussions.