February 2025 Sports Medicine Center Monthly Content
Diagnosing Sports Injuries with Orthopedic Ultrasound
The benefits of musculoskeletal ultrasound for young athletes
While MRIs and CTs are effective to help doctors diagnose sports injuries, an orthopedic ultrasound and more specifically, a musculoskeletal ultrasound, is a non-invasive, convenient and quick way for sports medicine professionals to identify injuries, inflammation or provide guided injections. To learn more about the benefits of musculoskeletal ultrasound and how it can help young athletes, read more from our expert partners at the Sports Medicine Center at Children’s Hospital Colorado.
Learn more about the benefits of orthopedic ultrasound and how it can help young athletes: HERE
January 2025 Sports Medicine Center Monthly Content
Mental health
The Psychology of Recovering from a Sports Injury
A season-ending injury can be difficult for young athletes physically, mentally and emotionally. From understanding the seriousness of the injury to rehabilitation goals through physical therapy, incorporating mental health is essential when recovering from a sports injury. To learn more about the psychology of recovering from a sports injury, read the advice from our expert partners at the Sports Medicine Center at Children’s Hospital Colorado.
December 2024 Sports Medicine Center Monthly Content
Creatine and Adolescent Athletes
A guide for parents of athletes
Creatine is a popular dietary supplement that can boost muscle growth and enhance athletic performance, but do young athletes need it? Our expert partners at the Sports Medicine Center at Children’s Hospital Colorado explain what creatine is, how to approach this supplement with children and how a dietitian can help.
Learn what to know about creatine- HERE
Teaching kids about gratitude
Teaching children to practice gratitude can help improve their mood, outlook and overall well-being, whether it's learning to feel grateful for things in their own lives or expressing gratitude to others. Children’s Hospital Colorado child and family therapist Marisa Taylor shares the benefits of gratitude and how to make it a part of your family's daily routine.
Start practicing gratitude with your kid- HERE
November 2024 Sports Medicine Center Monthly Content
Healthy fueling tips for athletes on the go
What to Eat When You’re on the Road
Body: Eating healthy is crucial when you’re traveling for sporting events, because young athletes need the right food to power their game and to refuel. However, finding healthy meals and snacks can be a challenge when you’re driving between school, work, home and sporting events. To make this easier, our partners at the Sports Medicine Center at Children’s Hospital Colorado offer tips for bringing your own food and navigating healthy to-go meals when your options are limited.
October 2024 Sports Medicine Center Monthly Content
The best post-game drink for young athletes
10 Benefits of Chocolate Milk for Nutrition Recovery
The 24 hours after a hard workout or sporting event is critical for recovery. But what should your young
athlete be eating and drinking during that time to maximize their muscle repair? Our partners at the
Sports Medicine Center at Children’s Hospital Colorado explain that chocolate milk has many benefits
for recovery, including electrolytes and necessary vitamins.
Learn about the benefits of chocolate milk in this article.- HERE.
September 2024 Sports Medicine Center Monthly Content
Myths and misconceptions about concussions
Stay prepared if a head injury occurs
What to Know About Concussions
While there’s no foolproof way for young athletes to avoid a concussion, knowing about
symptoms, causes and treatments can help parents and caregivers feel more prepared if a head
injury does occur. These expert tips from our partners at the Children’s Hospital Colorado
Sports Medicine Center help dispel some of the most common myths and misconceptions
about concussions, so you can stay informed.
August 2024 Sports Medicine Center Monthly Content
Get ready for physicals before preseason
Back-to-school sports physicals
Back-to-school physicals are important for making sure kids are healthy and ready for the
upcoming sports season. But how do you know what to expect from these checks? What does it
entail — and what should you bring? Get the answers to all these questions and more from the
experts at the Sports Medicine Center at Children’s Hospital Colorado, who share important
information on preparing for your child’s back-to-school sports physical.
July 2024 Sports Medicine Center Monthly Content
Understanding hyper hydration in young athletes
Signs and symptoms to know
It’s age-old advice to drink plenty of water when engaging in outdoor sports and activities.
However, did you know that it’s possible to drink too much water? While unlikely, hyper
hydration is a condition caused by overhydrating, which in turn dilutes the salt content in cells
and can lead to further complications. While similar to heat illness, the symptoms of hyper
hydration are directly related to an electrolyte imbalance. Read this article from our partners at
Children’s Hospital Colorado to understand hyper hydration and how to prevent it.
June 2024 Sports Medicine Center Monthly Content
How to prevent heat illness in summer
Expert tips for staying healthy and hydrated
Summer is the season of athletic training programs, sports camps and multi-day tournaments.
But it’s also the hottest time of the year, which can spell bad news for young athletes who
aren’t getting the proper hydration. In this article from our partners at Children’s Hospital
Colorado, you’ll learn about important heat illness prevention topics — including which children
are at risk, signs to watch for and how to create a hydration plan for before, during and after the big game.
Prevent heat illness- HERE.
May 2024 Sports Medicine Center Monthly Content
First-aid tips for young athletes
First-Aid Kit 101: What All Coaches Need to Know
Whether you’re a coach, parent or athlete, getting familiar with all the essential items in a first-aid kit can come in handy when a scrape,
fall or emergency happens. Children’s Hospital Colorado experts share the most important things to have in your kit,
plus how to get started with assembling it, so young athletes are never caught unprepared.
April 2024 Sports Medicine Center Monthly Content
Avoiding bad weather on the field
Weather Safety for Outdoor Sports
From thunderstorms to excessive heat, inclement weather can make outdoor sports
dangerous for kids and teens. However, knowing how to act when the sky starts rumbling can
keep your children, their teammates and your family safe. In this article from our partners at
Children’s Hospital
Stay safe outside- HERE.
March is NATIONAL ATHLETIC TRAINING MONTH
March 2024 Sports Medicine Center Monthly Content
Weight training for young athletes
Tips to stay safe
Weight training is a great way to improve your performance and prevent injury. However, there are many common weigh training mistakes that can lead to injury and keep you out of the game longer. Fortunately, our partners at Children’s Hospital Colorado have expert tips for how high school athletes can stay healthy, safe and strong when they’re in the weight room. From dynamic warmups to proper form, this article will show you how to use weights in a way that helps rather than harms.
February 2024 Sports Medicine Center Monthly Content
Fresh tips to stay active in winter
Enjoying the snow if you don’t ski
For many people, skiing is an important part of the winter season. But what happens if your
child doesn’t know how to ski, or if an injury is keeping them from the slopes? This can be a
frustrating and isolating experience for kids and adults alike. The good news: there are still
plenty of ways that kids can enjoy the great outdoors when there’s snow on the ground. In this
article from our partners at Children’s Hospital Colorado, you can find alternative ways to get
outdoors, stay busy and enjoy the winter months with kids who don’t ski.
Alternatives to Skiing- HERE.
January 2024 Sports Medicine Center Monthly Content
Is your athlete getting enough sleep?
Why sleep matters in sports
You already know that sleep plays an important role in a young athlete’s energy levels. But did you know that insufficient rest can also limit reaction time, reduce cognitive function and even increase the risk of injury? In this article, our partners at Children’s Hospital Colorado explain
how sleep impacts athletic performance. You’ll also learn key strategies for improving your child’s sleep, plus tips for travel, technology and more.
See why sleep matters for athletes from our expert partners at Children’s Hospital Colorado. HERE
November 2023 Sports Medicine Center Monthly Content
Help kids manage expectations and goals
Mentally preparing for the big game
The days leading up to a big game can cause stress. Kids might worry about making mistakes or losing in front of their peers. Fortunately, this pressure can be transformed into an opportunity to help kids build mental stamina. In this article, experts at Children’s Hospital Colorado show how caregivers can support children in becoming more resilient when they feel this stress.
Find out how such mental preparation can help kids foster confidence, manage expectations, and more HERE.
October 2023 Sports Medicine Center Monthly Content
Benefits of chocolate milk for athletes.
10 Ways Chocolate Milk Supports Nutrition
After a sporting event, kids need nutritious food and drinks that replenish their energy stores. Chocolate
milk is a great recovery drink because it boasts multiple nutritional benefits, including fluid and
electrolytes, protein for muscle repair, vitamins, carbohydrates and many more. Chocolate milk also
helps bone growth and contains important amino acids that speed up recovery.
To learn more about the benefits of chocolate milk and how it can help young athletes,
read more from our expert partners at Children’s Hospital Colorado. HERE
September 2023 Sports Medicine Center Monthly Content
What are Germs and How Can We Prevent Them from Spreading?
Germs are an unavoidable part of life, but that doesn’t mean there’s nothing we can do to prevent them from making kids sick. Children’s Hospital Colorado experts share everything you need to know about what germs are and how to keep them from spreading.
Learn all about germs HERE
How do you properly stretch an injured muscle?
An Athletic Trainer’s Do’s and Don’ts
Stretching can help young athletes heal their newly injured muscle, helping them get back in the game
sooner. However, stretching too much, or at the wrong time, can cause further damage to the injury. In
this article from Children’s Hospital Colorado’s Sports Medicine Center, athletic trainer Dennis Coonan
offers tips for when and how to start stretching a recent strain, and which types of stretches are best for
healing. Read the article to learn more about post-injury muscle care.
Learn more about post-injury #muscle care HERE
July 2023 Sports Medicine Center Monthly Content
Can athletes drink too much water?
Warning sign of hyper hydration
Hydration is essential for young athletes to feel and perform their best, but too much fluid can
put kids at risk of hyper hydration. Since athletes are sweating out essential electrolytes,
hydrating too much without replacing them can disrupt the body’s salt content. Hyper
hydration can result in nausea, confusion and other serious symptoms, so it’s important to
know the signs and risk factors.
June 2023 Sports Medicine Center Monthly Content
Is your athlete getting enough sleep?
Why sleep matters in sports

You already know that sleep plays an important role in a young athlete’s energy levels. But did
you know that insufficient rest can also limit reaction time, reduce cognitive function and even increase the risk of injury?
In this article, our partners at Children’s Hospital Colorado explain how sleep impacts athletic performance.
You’ll also learn key strategies for improving your child’s sleep, plus tips for travel, technology and more.
See why sleep matters by using the link from Children's Hospital Colorado: HERE
April 2023 Sports Medicine Center Monthly Content
How to fuel up for a tournament. Nutrition tips for long game days
MANAGEMENT OF CONCUSSIONS FROM
THE SIDELINE TO THE CLINIC AND
BACK TO SPORT
Eating the right food before a big tournament can make all the difference in how you feel and
perform. For young athletes, it’s especially important to strike the right balance of snacking,
hydration, and nutrition. See the best foods and drinks to eat before, during, and after a
tournament, so your kids can feel great on and off the field.
Learn more about tournament nutrition HERE
March 2023 Sports Medicine Center Monthly Content - Proper Nutrition for Young Athletes
Healthy lunch tips for athletes
Expert tips for refueling
Young athletes need proper nutrition in order to perform, grow and develop. But what exactly does a nutritious meal entail?
Learn from a sports nutrition expert at Children’s Hospital Colorado about the elements of a high-performance lunch, plus meal example plates based on activity level.
Get Children's Hospital Colorado's athlete lunch tips HERE
February 2023 Sports Medicine Center Monthly Content
What’s the deal with dry needling?
Muscle therapy for young athletes
Everyone’s muscles contain trigger points, which can cause discomfort, pain and tension when left untreated. Dry needling is a form of physical therapy that targets these trigger points in order to release chemical buildup, increase blood flow and promote healing. In this article from our partners at Children’s Colorado, learn more about dry needling and how it can support student-athletes with both performance and recovery.
Learn more about dry needling HERE
How to Advocate for Your Child
Whether it’s at the hospital or in school, parents must sometimes speak up for their children. Advocating for your child ensures that their needs are met and protects their physical, mental and emotional health. In this article, you’ll find expert advice from Children’s Hospital Colorado on how to advocate for your children in different settings — plus how to teach them self-advocacy.
Advocate for your child HERE
January 2023 Sports Medicine Content
Family exercise tips for feeling great together

Between school, work, and screen time, finding time for exercise can be a challenge. However, staying active is essential for mental and physical wellness at every age. Fortunately, there are many ways you can help the whole family get moving — all while boosting overall health. Whether setting SMART goals or getting more sleep, here’s what to know about having fun and staying active as a family.
Learn Family Exercise Tips From Children's Hospital HERE
Thank You to Our Partners
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