Spectrum of Care at the Young Athlete Program

At UPMC Sports Medicine, our physicians and surgeons specialize in both nonsurgical and surgical intervention and prevention of sport-related injuries. We draw our experts from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, and partnered community private practices. Our experts include nationally and internationally recognized specialists in orthopaedic surgery, physical medicine and rehabilitation, and family practice.

Our team is supported by expert radiologists and advanced imaging technology to accurately and quickly diagnose injuries. We offer technologies, including an anti-gravity treadmill, instrumented muscle strength machines, video analysis for running, cycling, golf, baseball, and softball, and more that are integral to our treatment and return-to-play protocol.

We offer patients a wide range of specialty services, use innovative techniques, and conduct vital research so that young athletes can receive expert, individualized sports medicine treatment and get back to the activities they enjoy.

Learn more.

UPMC Centers for Rehab Services provides expert physical therapists (PTs) with orthopaedic certified specialist and sports certified specialist certifications to staff UPMC Sports Medicine facilities. Whether you are a recreational or professional athlete, our PTs can help get you back in the game sooner – and safer. In addition to providing a wide range of rehabilitative techniques and treatments, our therapists perform sport-specific tests and functional movement assessments to provide effective recovery services that are tailored to your needs and goals.

Based on your goals, our primary care sports medicine doctors and orthopaedic surgeons may work with physical therapists to tailor a program for each young athlete that works to restore function, decrease pain, improve performance and recovery, and help them return fully and confidently to their sports and activities. Our physical therapists can also evaluate and treat with direct access without the involvement of a physician. PTs may see you first, conduct the initial evaluation, and create a physical therapy program for you based on their findings.

Our rehab team, including physical therapists and sports performance specialists, has athletes perform the specific movements required for their sport during rehab, which helps athletes be in better physical and mental shape when they’re ready to take the field again.

Learn more.

The UPMC Sports Medicine Concussion Program was the first of its kind when it opened its doors in 2000. Since then, we've become a global leader in sports-related concussion testing, diagnosis, treatment, and research.

With over 20,000 patient visits each year, our skilled team treats athletes and active people alike from right here in our backyard to across the globe. Our concussion program experts:

• Offer a tailored, active, and complete approach to managing all aspects of a concussion. We're here for you from the point of injury through your return to play or activities of daily life.
• Assess, manage, and treat concussions in people of all ages based on decades of research.
• Conduct baseline and post-concussion ImPACT® and Pediatric ImPACT® testing — FDA approved tools that we helped pioneer — and a range of other tests.
• Continue to set care standards for concussion management and return-to-play protocols, which other concussion programs throughout the U.S. have adopted.

Learn more.

Since sports performance first gained popularity in the 1990s, our program has been at the forefront of the industry with performance specialists continually incorporating the latest practices to help athletes of all ages optimize sports performance. The Sports Performance Program at UPMC Sports Medicine strives to enhance human movement and correct imbalances in sports and in life, and we have offerings specifically geared toward young athletes.

All members of a young athlete’s care team, including athletic trainers at our partner schools and organizations and physical therapists throughout the rehab process, help the athlete understand proper mechanics and injury prevention methods. Physical therapists use sport-specific movements to prepare athletes to return to sport. For athletes who want an extra performance push, they may choose to attend sports performance sessions following their treatment or physical therapy sessions. The goal of our entire team is to not only repair a torn rotator cuff, for example, but to help that young pitcher perform at the level they were before their injury.

Learn more.

Note: Typically, sports performance services are not covered by insurance, and costs can vary. Please check with your insurance provider.

At UPMC Sports Medicine, we know that returning to sport after an injury isn’t a guessing game. That’s why we’ve studied and developed research-backed return-to-play testing and protocols for several specific injuries, including ACL injuries and concussions. For example, our physical therapists use both stationary and handheld equipment, called dynamometers, to assess joint torque and help strengthen muscles.

Physical therapists, orthopaedic surgeons, and the athlete’s entire care team work together, conducting a series of tests to ensure a young athlete is ready to return to play at a high level with minimal risk of reinjury and the confidence they need to get out there and give it their all.

Learn more.

Athletes of all ages and skill levels have specific nutritional needs for optimal training, performance, and recovery.

At UPMC Sports Medicine, experts in nutrition provide a valuable adjunct to the other medical services we offer. We help athletes of all ages understand that proper fueling and hydrating are vital pieces of the performance puzzle, and we tailor each program to the individual for whom it is intended.

Learn more.

Note: Typically, sports nutrition services are not covered by insurance, and costs can vary. Please check with your insurance provider.

At UPMC, access to our entire academic medical center means we have the training to assess all aspects of a student-athlete's health, and we want to provide support if they find themselves in a time of need.

UPMC Sports Medicine, in partnership with UPMC Western Behavioral Health, offers mental health and wellness education and resources for all athletes. We're here to help young athletes perform their very best in sports, school, and life.

Learn more.