Now Open in Cherokee County: Children's Healthcare of Atlanta Sports Medicine Making a Difference in the Lives of Young Athletes By Kathleen Boehmig Childrens Healthcare is a familiar and respected name in Pediatric Medicine. For years, metro Atlanta has benefitted from their more than twenty-five locations, including thirteen Sports Medicine facilities, all nationally recognized. The fourteenth, metro Atlanta Sports Medicine location is now open in Cherokee County, as a service of Childrens at Scottish Rite hospital, bringing the same high level of excellence in pediatrics, to young sports participants in the area. Childrens is known for its dedication to the care of each patient. To that end, Childrens has the best orthopedic surgeons, physical therapists and certified athletic trainers, all knowledgeable about specialized care for young, growing athletes. Dr. David Marshall, Medical Director of Childrens Sports Medicine Program since 2001, explains how his program exemplifies the primary vision of Childrens to make kids better today and healthier tomorrow. We understand the needs and wants of kids and their parents, Dr. Marshall says. We do what we can to get them active again. Instead of just treating a young athletes pain, we fix the problem. Many of those problems are unique to children, adolescents and teens, and require specialized treatments. Nowadays, we see fewer traumatic injuries, like fractures, and many more cases of injury due to overuse of a specific set of muscles and/or tendons. We try to bring them back at a level which is less likely to cause injury. Dr. Marshall says the reason for so many overuse injuries is the trend over the last twenty years for youngsters to specialize in one particular sport. When I was a kid, most everyone played different sports seasonally. Depending on what time of year it was, wed play baseball, football or basketball. These days, many kids are excited about concentrating on one sport and playing on elite teams, achieving a high level of expertise, which can lead to scholarships or possibly even to pro contracts. But it can also lead to injuries, if theyre not really careful. Theyre practicing or playing most of the year, and they never get a chance to rest. Matt Owens, lead physical therapist and site supervisor for the new Cherokee facility, agrees. We see, for instance, a lot of Little League elbows and shoulders. Chronic, repetitive patterns of use in particular body parts can be responsible for inflammation and muscle issues, and can take from one to several months to heal. Of course, some fractures or traumatic injuries requiring surgery can have long recuperation periods. Fortunately, those instances are less common. Whatever the issue, Childrens is committed to keeping patients safe, providing the same standard of care in each facility and ensuring there is effective communication among patients, parents and caregivers. Childrens Sports Medicine Program offers the finest and most advanced treatment options available, including ACL injury prevention and rehabilitation, ImPACTTM concussion baseline testing and post-concussion medical management, isokinetic testing, a running program, dance medicine, motion analysis, sports nutrition and wrestling weight management. We are excited to offer Dartfish software, which we use as an analytical tool by capturing videos of individual athletes performances, Owens continues. Physicians and therapists who specialize in the individuals sport can conduct a deeply nuanced level of investigation into the injury, detecting mechanical inefficiencies in sports motions, and make recommendations to the athletes and their parents and coaches. Everyone is involved and informed, which betters the patients chances of healing fast, improving speed, agility and accuracy, as well as preventing recurrence of the injury. Owens adds, Our facility consists of 2,800 square feet, with 1,600 square feet of gym space. We are fortunate to have our own throwing lane and gymnastics equipment, as well as a parquet dance floor and portable ballet barres for artistic athletes. We provide evaluation and motion analysis for all kinds of sports, from running, tumbling, dance and gymnastics to golf, swimming, football, baseball, basketball, lacrossepretty much any sport around. We also have private office space where our certified athletic trainers can conduct ImPACTTM testing. Bob Breingan, a physical therapist and Childrens Director of Outpatient Therapy, reiterates Childrens emphasis on and investiture in their patients. Its about education and partnership, he says. On average, we have 41,000 visits per year, including 8,000 new patients. Each patient averages five visits per injury. Were looking to lower those numbers by making sure each patient gets not only the most effective treatment, but as much accurate information as possible to equip them and help prevent further injury. To that end, Childrens has certified athletic trainers in place in 38 metro high schools, including all six high schools in Cherokee County. They are the gatekeepers, Breingan says with a smile. They work with the athletes, the coaches and parents on site. Breingan is enthusiastic about the new Cherokee location, Its difficult for many families to get to downtown Atlanta, he says. Now, Childrens has brought the same, high level of expertise to Cherokee County. You dont have to come to us! Weve come to you. Dr. Marshall, Breingan, Owens and their staff exemplify the Childrens commitment to each young patient. Not many communities in the nation are fortunate, as is metro Atlanta, to have such a high level of pediatric care. Now, Childrens has brought their tradition of excellence in Pediatric Sports Medicine to Cherokee County. Childrens at CherokeeA service of Childrens at Scottish Rite hospital1554 Riverstone Parkway, Suite 160Canton, Georgia 30114404-785-4268CHOA.org/SportsMedFacebook: ChildrensHealthcareOfAtlantaInstagram: @ChildrensAtlTwitter: @ChildrensAtl
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