The Athletic Spine: Comprehensive Care for Adolescent Athletes

The Athletic Spine: Comprehensive Care for Adolescent Athletes

Please join us in person for the Nemours Sports Medicine Conference 2026 on Friday, October 2, 2026 from 8:00 am- 4:00 pm as we discuss special topics in care and management of youth and adolescent athletes with spinal injuries. Discover tailored care techniques, injury prevention tips, and rehab strategies designed specifically for adolescent athletes. This conference is geared towards healthcare professionals including physicians, physicians assistants, physical therapists, physical therapist assistants, performance coaches, athletic trainers and students of these disciplines.

This event will up your game in supporting adolescent athletes' health. Don't miss out on expert insights and hands-on learning in an interactive lab setting. Topics for this conference will include; diagnosis and orthopedic management of common spine conditions in the youth athlete, physical therapy management of lumbar instability, cervical spine management, management of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis in the athletic population, and additional special topics. This conference will also include didactic presentations and lab sessions. Lab session topics include: Manual therapy for the lumbosacral spine, Integrating Manual Therapy and Exercise for Neck Pain in Adolescent Athletes, Spine Return to Play Testing, On the Field Assessment and Management of Acute Cervical Spine Injuries.

Learning Objective: To share current best practices and recommendations for management of injuries to the spine in youth and adolescent athletes throughout rehabilitation continuum.

Audience: Physical therapists, physical therapist assistants, athletic trainers, sports performance coaches, and students of listed disciplines are encouraged to attend.

Registration Cost: $125 for professionals, $70 for students with ID. No refunds will be issued after September 25,2026.

Continuing Education Credits: Contact hours (6.5) will be awarded upon completion of the course, course assessments, and course surveys. CEU’s are pending from the New Jersey Board of Physical Therapy and BOC. Pennsylvania and Delaware state boards accept courses approved by other states.

The Americans With Disabilities Act: Nemours Children’s Hospital will provide modification sin teaching methodology to accommodate individual needs. To request disability accommodations, email [email protected] at least 15 days before the conference.

Info: This session will provide an overview of the diagnosis and management of common conditions affecting the cervical, thoracic and lumbar spine in youth athletes. History, physical examination, and imaging findings for a variety of congenital, developmental, traumatic, and overuse problems will be described.  Nonoperative and operative treatment options will be discussed.  Atypical findings that warrant further investigation will be reviewed.  

Info: This presentation will include discussion of the evaluation techniques of core strength. We will also discuss early and middle phased progressions to core strengthening with intervention ideas to utilize in clinical practice. 

Info: This presentation will review considerations for thoracic spine mobility and the connection to lumbar instability, progression of sport-specific skills, and mechanics of the spine during sport specific skills. Special considerations for gymnasts with lumbar instability will be discussed.

Info: This session will include a review the general definition of scoliosis as well as a brief review of best practices of clinical exam and understanding radiographic imaging of the spine and scoliosis to create a shared understanding of common treatment patients may be going through along with a review of latest SOSORT guidelines for recommendations of treatment including bracing and patient specific scoliosis exercises (PSSE).  This session will also cover a review of the benefits of exercise and physical activity for scoliosis in both a formal sport and recreational scenario.  Higher risk activities for progression of scoliosis will be discussed as well as a discussion of how to minimize risk of injury in this population with sports activities. Lastly post operative spinal fusion care will be discussed with evidence based decision making on when it is appropriate to return to sport post operatively.   

Info: This presentation highlights the role of the pelvic floor in movement, injury prevention, and rehabilitation in pediatric and adolescent athletes. Pelvic floor anatomy and its integration within the lumbopelvic-hip complex will be reviewed, with application to common lower extremity conditions such as knee pain and ankle instability. Emphasis is placed on kinetic chain energy transfer to support efficient movement and performance.   

Info: This session provides a pragmatic, evidence-informed framework for assessing and optimizing thoracic rotation in youth sport populations. We will review age-appropriate biomechanics, sport-specific demands (e.g., baseball/softball throwing, swimming, gymnastics, field hockey/lacrosse), and common dysfunction patterns seen in clinic and on the field. Participants will learn reliable clinical tests to differentiate mobility vs. motor control deficits, how to interpret findings within kinetic chain context, and how to select interventions that progress from soft tissue and joint techniques to mobility drills, breathing-based strategies, and multi-planar strengthening. We will also translate findings into return-to-play, load management, and injury-prevention strategies that fit real-world timelines and team settings. 

Info: This session will review and discuss acute cervical spine injuries of the pediatric and adolescent athlete when covering on-field events, evidence-based management of cervical spine injuries and best practice in return to sport considerations.  Attendees will gain practical knowledge and tools to recognize, manage, and make return to play decisions to enhance performance and reduce risk of reinjury.   

Info: This session explores evidence-based physical therapy strategies for managing cervical spine conditions in pediatric and adolescent athletes. We will examine the unique anatomical and developmental considerations of the cervical spine in youth athletes, discuss common clinical presentations such as neck pain, cervicogenic headache, cervicogenic dizziness, and post-concussion considerations, and review best practices for assessment and intervention. Attendees will gain practical tools to optimize recovery, enhance performance, and reduce the risk of reinjury, ensuring safe return-to-play for young athletes. 

Info: This session explores evidence-based physical therapy strategies for managing lumbosacral spine conditions in pediatric and adolescent athletes. We will examine the unique anatomical and developmental considerations of the lumbosacral spine in youth athletes, discuss manual therapy techniques for common clinical presentations such as low back pain and review best practices for assessment and intervention.  

This hands-on lab is designed to equip physical therapists and athletic trainers with evidence-based skills for managing low back pain in adolescent athletes. Participants will explore the unique anatomical, developmental, and psychosocial considerations of this population while applying manual therapy techniques integrated with therapeutic exercise and patient education. The session emphasizes clinical reasoning for safe and effective interventions that support pain reduction, functional restoration, and return-to-sport readiness. 

Info: This session explores evidence-based physical therapy strategies for managing cervical spine conditions in pediatric and adolescent athletes. We will examine the unique anatomical and developmental considerations of the cervical spine in youth athletes, discuss common clinical presentations such as neck pain, cervicogenic headache, cervicogenic dizziness, and post-concussion considerations, and review best practices for assessment and intervention. Attendees will gain practical tools to optimize recovery, enhance performance, and reduce the risk of reinjury, ensuring safe return-to-play for young athletes. 

This hands-on lab is designed to equip physical therapists and athletic trainers with evidence-based skills for managing neck pain in adolescent athletes. Participants will explore the unique anatomical, developmental, and psychosocial considerations of this population while applying manual therapy techniques integrated with therapeutic exercise and patient education.

Info: This hands-on lab equips physical therapist and athletic trainers with the skills and confidence to conduct comprehensive return-to-play testing for athletes recovering from spinal injuries or dysfunction. Participants will learn to administer a standardized battery of tests—including core stability, endurance, and sport-specific movement screens—while applying evidence-based thresholds for clearance. The session emphasizes safety, consistency, and documentation, ensuring that clinicians can make informed decisions that protect athlete health and optimize performance. Through guided practice, case-based discussion, and peer feedback, attendees will leave prepared to implement return to play spine protocols in clinical and athletic settings. 

Info: This hands-on lab will provide participants with practical skills for performing on-the-field assessment and management of acute cervical spine (C-spine) injuries and sport-related concussions in athletes. The session emphasizes rapid recognition, stabilization techniques, and safe athlete transport while minimizing secondary injury risk. Additionally, participants will learn to incorporate concussion screening into the overall evaluation process once cervical spine stability is confirmed. Scenario-based practice will reinforce evidence-based protocols and teamwork in emergency situations. 

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