Sports Medicine Program

Contact the Sports Medicine Program

We prevent and heal sports injuries to get your child back to the activities they love

Seattle Children’s Sports Medicine Program serves children and teens of all ages who are hurt in sports or other active play, whether in their own backyard or elite competition. Our pediatric sports medicine experts work as a team to give your child complete care and get them back to their usual activities.

We do more than heal current injuries. We also focus on preventing future injuries and improving performance — because we know being active plays a role in well-being, both physically and mentally.

Your child gets quick access to care, and you do not need a referral to make an appointment.

Expert Sports Medicine Care for Every Child

We see children and teens at every activity level and in all types of sports. Our patients include recreational and elite national athletes, Olympians and Special Olympians, professional athletes, children who have limb differences or need adaptive equipment and those who take a tumble on the playground.

Whatever your child’s needs, we have the expertise to care for them. Many of our providers have been involved in competitive sports as athletes themselves. We understand the challenges and demands of playing.

We also know your child is more than just the part that hurts right now. We take into account your child’s age, feelings, goals, nutrition, growth and more.

A boy lifts dumbbells with a sports physical therapist

Focus on Injury Prevention

To help your child return to play quickly and safely, we make sure your child is well prepared for their activity. This can prevent new or repeat injuries, increase performance and help avoid long recoveries from accidents and overuse.

We will work with you to develop a plan that is custom-made for your child. Often, care involves fine-tuning your child’s activity level. It may also mean designing a sports physical therapy program to help with strength, flexibility or anything that might play a role in injuries.

Our Athletic Training Program works with athletes, coaches and parents to prevent and treat injuries at many high schools and youth sporting events in the greater Puget Sound area.

Evidence-Based Sports Injury Treatment

Children and adolescents are not just little adults. The best pediatric sports medicine is geared to your child’s exact stage of development. This is our approach at Seattle Children’s.

Our treatment plans are based on the newest research about what will be best for young patients. We also partner with you to make sure the treatment plan works for your family.

We offer both surgical options and nonsurgical options, including rehabilitation and nutrition. When your child needs surgery, we use methods that limit the risk of injury to growing bones, like growth plate–sparing surgery for ACL reconstruction.

Support for Your Active Child

Along with the Sports Medicine Program, sports medicine care at Seattle Children’s also involves:

Learn how licensed and certified athletic trainers from Seattle Children’s play a role in equity and access to care for kids around the region.

Conditions We Treat

We diagnose, treat and prevent a wide range of acute and chronic sports injuries, including:

, including ankle sprains (PDF)
, including Achilles tendonitis (PDF)
Growth plate injuries
Concussions
Neck and back pain
Shoulder and arm problems — such as rotator cuff tendonitis (PDF), Little League shoulder (PDF), shoulder instability, , osteochondritis dissecans of the elbow and
Hip pain, including Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease and hip fractures

Knee problems — such as Osgood-Schlatter disease (PDF), patellar dislocation, patellar tendonitis (PDF), patellofemoral syndrome (PDF), Sinding-Larsen-Johansson syndrome (PDF), and osteochondritis dissecans
Torn knee (ACL, MCL, and PCL injuries ) and meniscal tears
Sever’s syndrome (PDF) (Spanish)
Fractures, including

Patient Success Stories

Female soccer player kneeling with ball

Soccer player Natalie Childress got a concussion after she went up for a header and collided with another player. At Seattle Children’s, she took part in a clinical trial testing a team-based approach to treating both the physical and mental health effects that came after.

I couldn’t have gotten through without that support and lifeline.
It gave us hope.

– Debbie, Natalie’s mom, who was grateful her daughter got to take part in a concussion study

Meet Your Sports Medicine Team

Our team of nationally recognized experts includes , adolescent medicine doctors, sports , , sports physical therapists, dietitians and athletic trainers. We work together to design a treatment plan so your child gets coordinated and detailed care from the very start.