Among its services, the Sports Health Center offers unique group courses, led by certified sports health specialists, focused on injury prevention and performance training. The goal of the group program is to educate young athletes on proper movement and mechanics to prevent orthopedic injuries.
“As sports medicine professionals, all of us here at Nicklaus children's share a passion for sports injury prevention. We see firsthand the physical and psychological consequences of orthopedic injuries. We are excited to bring these programs to young athletes in the community to reduce the risk of injury and keep them in the game,” said Lauren Butler, Sports Physical Therapy Supervisor at Nicklaus Children’s Sports Health Center.
A popular training program is geared to reducing the risk of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries and preventing reinjury in those who have had an ACL reconstruction. An estimated 250,000 athletes sustain ACL injuries in the United States each year. Female athletes are four to six times at greater risk than males. Fifty percent of athletes with ACL injuries are at a greater risk of developing osteoarthritis and have a 25 percent chance of a second injury. The estimated cost of ACL repair, including surgery and rehabilitation, is approximately $25,000 per injury.
The ACL-specific group classes offered at Nicklaus Children’s incorporate neuromuscular training, as well as a combination of muscle strengthening and motor skill coordination. Athletes also perform agility drills and plyometric training to improve landing and cutting mechanics. This unique combination of training reduces the incidence of injury or reinjury by 72 percent, studies show.
Other group classes offered at the Nicklaus Children’s Sports Health Center include injury prevention for runners and dancers as well as courses that educate on weight-lifting safety.
For more information, please visit nicklauschildrens.org/sportshealth
