Rehab Considerations for the Adolescent Overhead Athlete
Presented by Alexa Martinez
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The pediatric/adolescent overhead athlete demonstrates specific anatomical characteristics and requires unique and directed treatment interventions in order to ensure proper rehabilitation and decreased future injury risk. The general physical therapy practitioner lacks the experience and patient volume of adolescent overhead athletes. This course will detail specific anatomical considerations for the overhead adolescent athlete, pertinent examination tools, and directed treatment interventions. Additionally, this course will address return-to-sport considerations for the adolescent overhead athlete, which will include differentiating between return-to-sport participation and final physical therapy clearance.
Meet your instructor
Alexa Martinez
Alexa Martinez is a physical therapist at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital in Miami, Florida. She is a board-certified clinical specialist in sports physical therapy and a certified strength and conditioning specialist. She earned her Doctorate of Physical Therapy degree from the University of Miami in 2017 and completed a sports…
Chapters & learning objectives
1. Anatomy and Injury
This chapter will dive into specific anatomical characteristics for adolescent overhead athletes. These anatomical considerations include pertinent musculature attachments and specific growth centers. Additionally, this chapter will cover common mechanisms of injury in the overhead athlete and specific risk factors that adolescent athletes can be exposed to.
2. Examination and Treatment
This chapter will provide the viewer with evidence-based examination tools and treatment strategies for the adolescent overhead athlete. The examination tools include measures for range of motion, strength, flexibility, and neuromuscular control. The treatment strategies will include examples of interventions that can be applied to each of the examination categories to include therapeutic exercise, manual therapy, and neuromuscular reeducation.
3. Return to Play
This chapter will address return-to-play considerations for the adolescent overhead athlete. The viewer will be introduced to criteria and time-based considerations for when to begin a sport-specific interval program for the overhead adolescent athlete. This chapter will conclude with a discussion with other physical therapists regarding return to sport for the overhead adolescent athlete.
