As the defending world champions prepare to make its home in Kansas City for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, one local teenager has an extra reason to be excited.

Seventeen-year-old Jeremias Caromona has been rehabbing a back injury at the Children’s Mercy Sports Medicine Center in Village West after getting hurt while playing soccer.

In less than a week, the facility will officially become the training base camp for Argentina, the reigning World Cup champion and Caromona’s favorite team.

“Honestly, I'd be happy to see any player,” Caromona said.

For him, the timing could not be better.

“Knowing that I'm going to be here for physical therapy, I'm like, ‘Oh my, this is awesome to hear, even better,’” he said.

Caromona’s family is from Argentina, making the opportunity even more meaningful.

See the full story via KMBC 9

Children's Mercy Sports Medicine Center

The new location will be open to patients starting Monday, March 16. A second location is planned to open in Shawnee later this year. 

Designed for families who need timely medical care for common illnesses and minor injuries, this location offers walk‑in and online scheduling options with evening and weekend hours, times when other care options are not always available. The clinic is staffed by Children’s Mercy pediatric health care professionals who specialize in caring for children and teens. 

Express Care is designed for quick treatment of minor illnesses, while our Urgent Care locations provide a higher level of care for more complex—but still non‑emergency—needs. 

The Orthopedic Injury Clinic will be staffed by orthopedic specialists who can treat broken bones, strains, sprains and other orthopedic injuries. This location will also support follow-up appointments with Orthopedic and Sports Medicine providers, ensuring continuity of care for patients.  

“Families today need care that fits into their busy lives without compromising quality,” said Allison Gardner, DNP, RN, NE-BC, CPN, Vice President and Associate Chief Nursing Officer for Ambulatory Practice Ops at Children’s Mercy. “This new location allows us to meet families where they are, providing the same expert pediatric care Children’s Mercy is known for in a setting that’s convenient, accessible and focused on kids.” 

Express Care will provide treatment for conditions including: 

• Cold and flu symptoms
• Evaluation for RSV, COVID and Mono
• Ear infections
• Sore throats
• Minor stomach illness
• Minor cuts and burns
• Other non‑emergency concerns 

Orthopedic Injury Clinic will provide treatment for:  

• Broken bones (bone hasn’t broken skin)
• Strains
• Sprains
• Other orthopedic injuries 

Children’s Mercy on Ash Ave.: 

• Opening date: March 16, 2026
• Location: 9713 N. Ash Ave., Kansas City, MO 64157
• Phone: 816-983-6150
• Hours: Sunday - Saturday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
• Appointments: Walk‑in and online scheduling available 

For more information about Children’s Mercy on Ash Ave., visit ChildrensMercy.org. 

Blue Valley North High School senior Logan Parks won the Evelyn Gates Award presented by Children's Mercy Wednesday as the top female high school volleyball player in the Kansas City area.

The announcement came during an early afternoon ceremony at the high school.

The traveling trophy will be at Blue Valley North and the school's athletic department will receive a $500 stipend, according to a news release from the Kansas City Sports Commission.

Read the full article via KSHB 41

Caitlin Clark supercharged the 32nd annual WIN for KC Women’s Sports Awards banquet, which is the nation's largest celebration of girls and women's sports.

"When we started seeing the attendance numbers tick, tick, tick, tick, tick — and now we're almost 4,000, maybe over 4000," WIN for KC Director Taylor Obersteadt said. "I think our previous record was 1,500, so that's when I knew the excitement was really there."

Clark — decked out in bright red, a nod to her beloved Super Bowl-bound Kansas City Chiefs — discussed a wide range of topics during a 20-minute conversation at the T-Mobile Center.

Clark made the All-WNBA First Team in her first season with the Indiana Fever last year, leading the league in assists with a WNBA-record 337 and made three-pointers.

But she told the crowd, which included 350 Kansas City-area girls who won high school state championships in the last year, that it's also OK to fail "as long as you learn from it and bounce back."

Clark also discussed the role mental health plays in her preparation and reiterated her belief that "Kansas City would be a great spot for a (WNBA) team."

Addison Bjorn — a Park Hill South junior, who plays for the same AAU team Clark played for (the All Iowa Attack) — received the Children’s Mercy Kansas City Rising Star Award after helping the USA Basketball Junior National Team win the FIBA U17 Women's Basketball World Cup last summer.

See the full story via KSHB 41

Dr. Amy Xu got hooked on cheerleading in the fifth grade.

As she pursued the sport in high school and college, she witnessed how the routines started demanding increasingly complex acrobatic feats — tall human towers and tumbling passes with many twists and flips.

It wasn’t unusual for her and her teammates to get concussions and other injuries.

“I saw individuals that are constantly battling through chronic conditions, suffering through acute injuries because it's a sport that requires practice and participation all year long,” says Xu, now an orthopedic resident at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York.

Xu, who has published research on injuries related to cheerleading, says the sport that isn’t really talked about much in the literature.

Pediatricians are now raising awareness of the risks. For the first time in over a decade the American Academy of Pediatrics has issued an updated statement this week on the risks of injuries related to youth cheerleading, and how to prevent them.

The group is calling for cheerleading to be formally recognized as a sport, and for cheerleaders to get the same resources and support as other athletes.

Dr. Gregory Canty, who co-authored the AAP statement, says he sees cheerleading patients “daily” in his medical practice.

“As the athleticism and the height on [cheerleading] stunts get higher and higher, that leads to an increased risk of injury — and some degree of serious injury,” says Canty, medical director at the Sports Medicine Center at Children’s Mercy hospital in Kansas City, Mo.

Read the full article via NPR

Sports Medicine Center at Children's Mercy Kansas City

Braedon, who played football, baseball and wrestled for Junction City (Kan.) High School, is a focused, determined kid who loves hunting and fishing. “Braedon is my quiet, introverted kid,” said Terrah. “He can read the room and study people better than anyone I know.” 

Terrah, who is a nurse midwife at Stormont Vail Hospital in Topeka, took Braedon to several different orthopedic and sports medicine specialists to try to find the source of his pain. “We thought at first that it was a brachioplexus injury from wrestling,” Terrah recalled. “He would lose feeling in his left arm and hand off and on. It would get better, he’d be cleared for sports, and then end up in severe pain again.”

After months of dealing with this frustrating cycle, Braedon began to struggle with his mental health as well. “One night, we had a really tough, desperate 4 a.m. conversation,” Terrah shared. “Braedon was just begging me to fix the problem. The advocate in me just couldn’t give up on him.” 

The Stroda family is full of fighting spirit. Terrah herself is a cancer survivor, but unfortunately her husband Brandon passed away from cancer in 2017. “Since the passing of Braedon’s dad, our family has a ‘don’t quit’ motto,” Terrah said. “You can’t sit in that hopelessness.” 

Braedon himself has been a patient at Children’s Mercy since he was one week old. He was born with a cleft lip and palate and the Craniofacial team has performed 14 surgeries over the years to correct that. So while hospital life was nothing new for them, this situation felt different.

The search for answers continues

Terrah made Braedon an appointment with the Children’s Mercy Sports Medicine team, who suspected there was more than a sports-related injury at the root of Braedon’s pain and referred him to John Anderson, MD, in the Spine Clinic. More in-depth imaging studies showed an osteoid osteoma, a small, non-cancerous mass on his spine near the base of his skull. 

“It was unclear at the time if the mass was contributing to the pain,” said Christian Kaufman, MD, FAANS, a neurosurgeon who was part of Braedon’s care team. “After very careful review, it started to make sense: Yes, it fits that this small benign lesion does seem to be a probable cause of his pain. But then the next big challenge is how do we get to this location, because it’s a very challenging one.”

Traditional surgical approaches to remove the mass on Braedon’s spine were very risky. “His mass was unique in that it was in a really difficult anatomic place,” said Douglas Rivard, DO, Executive Vice President and Physician-in-Chief and an interventional radiologist on Braedon’s care team. “Initially, we tried to access Braedon’s mass in radiology and [computerized tomography (CT)] and we just didn't have a good anatomic window. One of the main arteries that feeds the back of his brain was in the way, so we had to cut short that procedure and regroup.”

If at first you don’t succeed...

That first unsuccessful attempt to remove the mass in April 2023 was a big disappointment for Braedon, his family and his surgical team. However, Dr. Rivard was determined to find another way. He spent time reading, researching and thinking about Braedon’s situation while on a previously scheduled vacation shortly after the first attempt to remove the mass. When he came back to work, he pulled in several other Children’s Mercy specialists, including plastic surgeon Shao Jiang, MD, and additional members of the neurosurgery team. Together, they came up with a new plan.

Rather than entering through the back of the neck, Braedon’s team decided to try a trans-oral approach: going through the mouth. “As pediatric plastic surgeons who do cleft surgery, that’s an area that we typically can access pretty easily,” said Dr. Jiang. “So I just scrubbed in and used a special retractor for cleft lip and palate to open up the mouth and allow the neurosurgeons to use a neural navigation tool to pinpoint and access exactly where the lesion was.”

“Collaboration is the key to everything” 

A trans-oral approach to the cervical spine is sometimes used for adults, but this was the first time the Children’s Mercy team had successfully used that strategy on a pediatric patient. All of Braedon’s doctors stressed that it was the collaboration and top-tier facilities at Children’s Mercy that made this unique surgery possible. “I think that our collegiality here is so good that we could pull aside any expert walking down the hall and say, ‘Hey, you know what, I have this particular clinical challenge, and I would appreciate if you could consider it,’” reflected Dr. Jiang.

Neurosurgeon Dr. Kaufman agreed. “It was a combination of multiple fields coming together to figure out how to use these new and innovative tools and ways to get there safely,” he said. “Collaboration is the key to everything — that's why it went so well,” he emphasized. The surgical team knew there were still risks to the alternative approach, but they felt that together, they could have a better chance at removing the painful mass.

Joyful tears

Terrah vividly remembers the moment Dr. Rivard came to update her after the second surgery in June of 2023: “He couldn’t get to me fast enough! He made a beeline for me and had a massive smile and said, ‘We got it!’” And we both had a moment. It was a very intense, phenomenal, inspiring moment for me to see that it actually worked.” 

Braedon, on the other hand, wanted to see proof. Terrah recalls that as soon as he woke up, he insisted on seeing Dr. Rivard so he could know for sure that the mass was out.

Things improved significantly for Braedon after the procedure, and he was enjoying school, hunting and hanging out with his friends again. But a few months later, his pain started up again. The type of tumor Braedon had emits prostaglandin, a substance that causes bone pain. Even with only a tiny amount of tumor cells remaining, the tumor had continued to replicate itself and had grown back in the same area. 

Third time’s the charm

“There was a big moment of a loss of hope,” Terrah shared. But true to their family’s fighting spirit, Terrah and Braedon returned to Children’s Mercy for new scans. Dr. Rivard, Dr. Kaufman and the team went back to the drawing board to find a way to tackle the persistent mass on Braedon’s spine. Together with Braedon and Terrah, the team decided to once again use the trans-oral approach to remove the tumor. 

In March of 2024, Braedon had his third surgery to remove the osteoma. “The post-operative recovery was the worst this time,” Terrah recalled. Finally, a few weeks after the third surgery, “I got my kid back,” she said.

Braedon’s doctors were also glad to see a good outcome at last. “It’s especially gratifying on our end that we got to work together and do something really exceptional,” shared Dr. Rivard. And Dr. Jiang agreed: “It’s like putting a puzzle together. That last piece goes in there, you finally see the whole picture and it’s really amazing to know that each piece was where it was supposed to be.”

While he was relieved to have his pain under control, Braedon was deeply disappointed that many of the sports he loved were no longer safe for him to play due to the risk of injury to his neck. “He was a highly competitive, multi-sport athlete until he wasn’t,” Terrah shared. Baseball is the one sport he can still participate in, so for his senior year, he is shifting all his energy into that. “He’s also found there are other things to be a star at: Boys State, student government and student media at his high school,” Terrah said.

Moving forward

With his painful battle behind him at last, Braedon is looking ahead to his future. After he graduates in 2025, he plans to attend Kansas State University to major in engineering, with a particular focus on the medical side of engineering, such as surgical tools like the ones that helped him. “Dr. Rivard really inspired him to see how many options there are for medicine and research,” said Terrah.

Terrah is relieved to have this difficult journey behind them, too. For other families facing tough medical challenges, she said: “Just don’t quit. Listen to your child, but also reflect on what your goals are. Empower yourself to be the advocate for your child. You have to find the right team, which is why we continue to go to Children’s Mercy. They are the ‘don’t quit’ people!” 

With the creativity, collaboration and connections Braedon’s care team brought to his unique case, the future looks bright for Braedon and many other kids who come to Children’s Mercy for their care. “Kids — even pretty big kids like Braedon — are not just small adults,” said Dr. Jiang. “This case expands the options and techniques that were developed in other age groups and for other indications and adapts them for pediatric use.” The surgical team plans to publish a case report and journal article to help other families who are looking for answers to a challenging medical situation.

“Braedon’s story wasn’t a pretty story,” Terrah said, “but it wasn’t his forever story. That’s what Children’s Mercy did — they never stopped until we got it all.”

Neurosurgery and Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at Children's Mercy

Children's Mercy Kansas City Sports Medicine Center 

By Alan Shope

We all know the problems that come from bullying in schools.

In a partnership with Children's Mercy, Sporting Kansas City players want to put a stop to it.

"It's important to be kind to everyone," Sporting KC goalie Tim Melia said.

Melia tends the net for Sporting Kansas City. His job, blocking out anything that tries to go in it.

"I think it's something that probably every single person in the world has experienced," Melia said.

The player says it's the same message when it comes to bullying.

See the full story via KMBC 9

Red Card Bullying Prevention Campaign

Children's Mercy Sports Medicine Center

Two Children’s Mercy Sports Medicine Center athletic trainers assigned to Sporting Kansas City Academy, Karan Padmakumar, MS, LAT, ATC, and Payton Jensen, ATC, LAT, CSCS, were both working on Victory Field.

Karan was in the medical tent while Payton was with the Academy’s U14 team as they battled Nashville’s club. The second half of the match was just beginning. Referee Mark Kinch, a staple at Academy matches for the past several years, prepared to blow the whistle to signal the start of play. He took a couple steps and then fell face forward.

Jorge Santana, athletic trainer for the Nashville side, was first to reach Mark. Payton joined him seconds later.

“When we arrived, he was actively seizing,” said Payton.

He and Jorge rolled him onto his side, stabilized his head and signaled to Karan and other staff to contact Emergency Medical Services. Mark continued to seize for five or six minutes. Payton and Jorge monitored his pulse and began CPR when he lost pulse and became cyanotic.

“We opened the airway and started compressions,” said Payton. “Luckily we had an AED onsite.”

Karan had seen Mark fall from a distance and ran over with the automated external defibrillator (AED), which is standard medical equipment for Sporting Academy but not often on-hand at other youth soccer clubs around the country.

As Payton and Jorge began setting up the AED, Karan began calling 911 and started implementing their emergency action plan (EAP), including removing players from visibility and opening gates so EMS could arrive quickly. Another Children’s Mercy employee, Lisa Wedel (MS, APRN, CPNP-PC), was on site because she’s an Academy host parent. She ran to help and was instrumental in getting Mark the care he needed.

“That emergency action plan is standard for [Sporting Kansas City Academy] but not for everyone,” said Karan. “That’s the message we want to get across: These things we had set in place really made a difference.”

Payton agreed. “It’s not only having the plan, but everyone knowing what to do,” he said. “Having a team that is cohesive and who knows their roles is super important in an emergency situation.”

Payton and Jorge went through three cycles of CPR and administered one shock before EMS arrived. Karan met the truck as it arrived and debriefed them on Mark’s condition.

“Once they came, EMS took over the situation. We were able to inform them of everything that we’d already done,” Payton said. “When I explain it, it sounds like it happened in the blink of an eye, but it felt much longer when in the situation.”

“Time just disappears when you’re in a situation like that,” Karan agreed.

“This was so well controlled,” said Lisa. “No one panicked. Karan and Payton acted like they had run this scenario a thousand times. I was so incredibly impressed with Karan, Payton, and all of the SKC Academy staff involved with how they worked together to get Mark the help he so clearly needed.”

Karan and Payton worked with the Academy’s referee assigner to track down Mark’s emergency contacts, so his loved ones could meet him at the hospital. Mark's family kept Karan and Payton updated on his condition in the days that followed.

“The first thing I remember is waking up in a hospital room around 4 p.m. the next day,” said Mark. “It still feels pretty surreal.”

Mark’s family has some history of heart disease, but he had no warning signs before his heart attack. He had worked from home earlier that day, then arrived early for the 5 p.m. match feeling normal and ready to ref. He is especially grateful that the cardiac event happened on the field with professionals with medical training nearby.

“With me working remotely, if it had happened at home, I wouldn’t be talking to you,” Mark said.

Mark said he’s going to pay much more attention to what on-site medical care is available at games in the future. He’s seen his share of broken bones and concussions on the pitch, but never a health event like what he experienced.

“Part of my annual [referee] recertification is safe sport training,” Mark shared. “Some of that is recognizing the signs of cardiac arrest. I never imagined I’d be witnessing it—or be the one it happened to.” 

Many people don’t realize the breadth of knowledge athletic trainers possess, including being able to provide emergency care. From injury evaluation to rehabilitation to being the liaison between players and other medical providers, athletic trainers are on the front lines of sports medicine. While traveling, athletic trainers are doing everything from monitoring players’ colds to making sure kids with allergies are getting the medicine they need.

“Every aspect of healthcare you can think of for these kids, we’re touching in some way,” Karan explained.

Athletic trainers must go through accredited programs and most hold master’s degrees; all are board certified and state licensed.

“We serve as a primary healthcare professional for these athletes, 24/7,” said Karan. “We are there for every practice, every game...we’re trained in emergency care to ensure that in an emergency like this, there’s a trained professional around.”

Mark’s doctors told him that fast thinking and immediate action by Karan, Payton, Jorge and others not only saved his life but protected him from brain damage. Mark is now out of the hospital, resting and beginning cardiac rehab. He would like to return to refereeing after his recovery is complete.

“I’m very, very grateful for their quick response,” said Mark. “The fact that I’m still here is because of them.”

“Our athletic trainers are incredibly skilled health care professionals who perform an invaluable service in the community,” said Dr. Kevin Latz, Chief, Section of Sports Medicine. “Their skill set is often under appreciated. We are blessed to have Payton and Karan representing Children’s Mercy Hospital.”

Children's Mercy Sports Medicine Center

As summer heats up and temperatures get warmer, it is important to take precautions and protect yourself from heat illness while exercising outdoors. Extremely high temperatures put athletes at an increased risk for heat illness and knowing the steps for prevention can help keep you safe.

When to exercise

• Avoid the midday sun by exercising before 10 a.m. or after 6 p.m., if possible
• If you must exercise in the middle of the day, try to do it in shady areas
• When exercising in high heat and humidity, rest 10 minutes for every hour

What to wear

• Wear lightweight and breathable clothing
• Avoid dark clothing
• Change wet clothing frequently
• Wear sunscreen. A sunburn can make it harder for your body to cool itself

Staying hydrated

• Maintain your hydration level from day-to-day throughout your exercise activities. Do not start off these activities dehydrated.
• The best way to monitor your hydration is to monitor your weight. While wearing minimal clothes without any shoes and socks, weigh yourself daily to ensure that your weight is not fluctuating.
• Weighing yourself daily during consistent exercise or practice allows you to monitor if you are over-hydrating, which is just as big of a problem as under-hydrating.
• Water is an adequate source of hydration for 1-2 hours of activity, but sometimes athletes are more likely to hydrate with a commercial sports drink because it has a taste to it.
• For student-athletes doing a lot of hard exercise, or having a hard practice, it is beneficial to have a recovery drink within 30 minutes of the activity. Chocolate milk is a great source because of its excellent ratio of fats and sugars, and hydration benefits.
• Make sure that your student-athlete is acclimated to the heat prior to having to practice or exercise under warmer conditions.

Heat stroke signs and symptoms

• Nausea
• Headache
• Weakness
• Poor concentration
• Flushed skin
• Lightheadedness
• Fatigue
• Vomiting

If you develop any of these heat stroke symptoms, you must take steps to lower your body temperature and get hydrated immediately. Stop exercising right away and get out of the heat. Cool your body down by removing extra clothing or equipment. Sit in a tub of cold water or place wet towels or ice pack on your neck, forehead and under your arms. Continue to drink fluids. If your condition gets worse or you do not start to feel better, seek medical attention or speak with your healthcare provider.

This article has been clinically reviewed by Greg Canty, MD Sports Medicine Physician

Learn more about the Children's Mercy Sports Medicine Center

Read this before the kids head outside to play. These 12 tips will help them have a fun—and accident-free—spring whether they're in a sport or just hanging out at the playground.

Don't forget the parts of the body that might need protecting depending upon the sport. If your child is just discovering the fun of doing wheeled activities like skating, wheelies, and skateboarding, for instance, it's important to protect his or her wrists. "There's a high risk of the child's falling onto his outstretched hand," says Greg Canty, M.D., medical director for the Children's Mercy Kansas City Sports Medicine Center. "Wrist guards may also help prevent a broken arm and ensure a spring that's filled with fun without a cast."

Shin guards and appropriate footwear are particularly important for small soccer players. Make sure the guards cover the entire shin and that shoes with cleats don't pinch.

Read the full list via Parents

Learn more about Sports Medicine at Children's Mercy 

Keeping kids active is so important to their physical and mental health. Dr. Brian Harvey is sharing tips for how kids can stay safe during sports activities and return to the sports they love after a COVID-19 diagnosis.

View the full clip via Good Day Kansas

Learn more about Children’s Mercy Wichita

Senior Andrea Davis’ basketball dreams were temporarily sidelined her freshman year at Junction City High School when she learned she would need to have back surgery to correct scoliosis.

Davis learned she would need the operation after a physical.

The doctor ordered an x-ray. Davis and her parents were referred to Children’s Mercy of Kansas City where doctors determined she needed surgery to correct the curve of her spine.

“I was nervous because I had never really had a surgery before,” Davis said. “I was kind of scared. It was like a lot of emotions hit me at once, because I wanted to play. That was the only thing that I was thinking about was basketball. I wasn’t thinking about the school I was missing — I didn’t care about that part. I just wanted to play. And after he told me that I was going to need surgery and he walked out, I started crying. Because it’s like — basketball is like — it’s everything to me and him telling me that I wouldn’t be able to play broke my heart.”

All this did not keep her away from the hoop.

“Not too long after surgery — a couple months — I started playing basketball outside of the house,” Davis said. 

It took her a full year after surgery to bounce back 100 percent from her operation.

Coming back to her team, Davis said she worried she wouldn’t be court-ready. This mental challenge was her biggest barrier in returning to basketball.

She returned to the court this season and everything was going right — until Jan. 22.

The game was off to a good start, Davis said. She took a shot — a layup — which she made. Davis went to steal the ball from an opposing player, but as she came down her knee buckled outward and then came back in, she said.

She had hoped the injury would be a quick fix — a month’s recovery at most — but after an x-ray and an MRI Davis learned she had fractured her tibia, torn her ACL and sprained her meniscus.

Davis has no desire to undergo another surgery, but she will endure it if she must.

Just because she’s off the court doesn’t mean she won’t be on the sidelines with her teammates every step of the way, doing her best to lead by example even if she can’t help lead her team to victory.

Read the full story via The Junction City Union

Learn more about the Sports Medicine Center at Children's Mercy

Here are some tips to help you prevent ankle sprains:

• Wear shoes that are appropriate for your sport and provide support
• Try to avoid planting your feet on uneven surfaces
• Warm up before playing sports
• A quality injury prevention program that includes flexibility, mobility, strength, balance and agility training has been shown to be the most effective means of reducing ankle injury rates
• If your ankle has been injured previously and you have done appropriately rehab, then you may also wrap it with a bandage or wear a brace for future sports, if desired

Here are some of the symptoms of an ankle sprain:

• Continued pain (sprains may last for weeks or months)
• Swelling
• Tenderness
• Redness
• Bruising
• Ankle instability
• Decreased range of motion
• Weakness

Follow the RICE approach with treating an ankle sprain:

• Rest
• Ice (Can be applied as needed to help with pain and no longer than 15 to 20 minutes at a time)
• Compression (with a bandage wrap or brace, again if it helps with pain)
• Elevation of the ankle above your heart
• Early mobilization and range of motion are helpful, with focus on good exercises for the ankle
• If needed, you can also use ibuprofen (Advil or Motrin) or naproxen (Aleve) to help reduce the pain

If your pain is intolerable or worsens after the first couple of days, you should visit a sports medicine physician because the injury could be more serious than a sprain. You may need an examination and testing – possibly with an x-ray or MRI – or physical therapy.

This article has been clinically reviewed by Jay Roberson, MD Sports Medicine Physician

Learn more about the Sports Medicine Center at Children's Mercy.

High school football teams began practice this week for the upcoming fall 2020 season, but things are looking pretty different for coaches and athletes this summer.

“You just got to stress to these kids, if you do not feel right, you can not come to workouts,” Jon Holmes, coach of Bishop Miege, said. “For a kid that’s been sitting at home for 13 weeks, that’s hard for that kid to do.”

Lincoln Prep Coach William Lowe has Children’s Mercy trainer Mary Helfer screening kids before training begins. She asks questions like, “Have you been exposed to someone with COVID in the past 14 days?” and “Have you had or been exposed to someone with a temperature over 100?” Also, she asks if players experienced any different symptoms, like coughing, shortness of breath, chills, headaches and sore throat among others.

But it’s more than just asking about symptoms. Many schools, like Lincoln Prep, are taking temperatures of everyone at the start of each practice.

See the full story via Fox 4

Learn more about a Safe Return to Sport

Although sports can provide a multitude of emotional and physical benefits for kids, specializing in a single sport at too early an age can pose risks. How do you know when—or if— your children should specialize in a sport they love?

What is sports specialization? Brian Harvey, D.O., Children’s Mercy Sports Medicine Center, says that sports specialization is defined as playing and competing in one single sport exclusively for more than eight months out of the year.

Prevent injury

An overuse injury occurs as a result of repetitive motion and impact on one area of the body.

“Overuse injuries are those injuries that cause an athlete to lose more than a month of their sport,” Harvey says. “Those are the biggest ones that we see in the developing athletes that do sports specialization.”

Avoid burnout. Participating in different sports throughout the year is easier on developing bodies, and kids are less likely to get bored or even anxious or depressed.

“Athletes wanting to perform at their best, but not being able to, whether it’s due to injury or their fear of disappointing a coach or a parent or even themselves, plus that chronic daily physical demand, can lead to higher rates of burnout and quitting their sport,” Harvey says.

Read the full story via KC Parent

Learn more about the Sports Medicine Center at Children's Mercy

When it comes to training for sports, many student-athletes and their parents recognize the importance of eating well and consistent exercise, but sleep is often overlooked as a factor that can affect a child’s performance and recovery. That’s unfortunate because getting enough quality slumber is critical for an athlete’s energy, coordination, muscle growth, recovery, repair, mental focus, ability to manage stress, and academic performance.

Contrary to common perception, sleep isn’t a passive activity; it’s an active state that leads to repair, recovery and regeneration for an athlete’s body and mind.

How It Helps Their Game

Besides improving physical energy and mental stamina during practices and games, sleep can improve skills specific to various activities. For instance, sleeping more can increase shooting accuracy among basketball players, and the accuracy of serves among tennis players. By contrast, insufficient sleep or sleep deprivation (such as pulling an all-nighter) can impair a student-athlete’s reaction time, lead to decreased exercise tolerance and a quicker onset of exhaustion while playing sports.

Enough sleep is especially important in young athletes for growth, development, recovering from injury and even helping prevent future injuries. Research shows that teen athletes with a lack of sleep are at a higher risk of injury.

Ways to Get More Sleep

Given the demands of practice and competition schedules, as well as academic responsibilities, student-athletes are at a considerable risk of not getting enough sleep to meet the needs of their active bodies and minds. Making high-quality sleep a priority is a must.

Start by helping your athlete stick with a consistent sleep schedule (including bedtimes and awakening times) that allow for enough sleep.

Create a relaxing routine before bed to help your student-athlete manage stress and decompress. Don’t allow the use of electronic devices shortly before bedtime, as it suppresses secretion of melatonin, which is not conducive for sleep.

If the opportunity allows, let your student-athlete nap (20 to 30 minutes) to supplement inadequate night-time sleep on an as-needed basis. Be careful though because napping longer can interfere with the much more important nighttime sleep.

If a student-athlete is consistently struggling with sleep where it could be because of a more serious condition such as insomnia, sleep apnea or a sleep-related movement disorder, he or she should see their primary care physician who may refer to a sleep specialist if needed.

This article has been clinically reviewed by Greg Canty, MD Sports Medicine Physician

Learn more about the Sports Medicine Center at Children's Mercy.

Be prepared

When it comes to playing and competing in the cold, student-athletes should:

• Be aware of the weather forecast before going outside for practice or competition
• Wear layers to make it easy to remove or add clothing as conditions and exertion levels change. Fabric with wick moisture can help them stay dry.
• Be careful not to wear too many layers, as they might overheat and get sweaty. Once you get wet with sweat, it can be hard to maintain warmth.
• Stay hydrated preferably with water or a sports drink.
• Maintain a well-balanced diet.
• Bring extra shoes, socks and gloves to replace clothing that becomes wet.

When dressing in layers, keep in mind that moisture-wicking fabrics that can help keep skin dry make good base layers; middle layers made of fleece or natural fibers provide good insulation; and water- and wind-resistant outer layers will help reduce the loss of body heat.

Cold-weather conditions to watch for

Hypothermia

Hypothermia is a serious condition for athletes when they play or compete in cold temperatures. Hypothermia usually occurs when it’s very cold outside, but it can also strike when temperatures are merely cool and an athlete gets wet or sweaty and then becomes chilled. Signs of hypothermia include:

• Shivering
• Exhaustion
• Confusion
• Drowsiness
• Slurred speech
• Fumbling hands
• Memory loss

Frostbite

Frostbite is a bodily injury caused by freezing that leads to a loss of feeling and color in affected areas—usually the nose, ears, cheeks, chin, fingers or toes. Frostbite can permanently damage the body and, in severe cases, can lead to amputation.

Redness, pain or numbness in any area are the first signs of frostbite. Other signs of frostbite are when the skin turns white or grayish-yellow, feels unusually firm or waxy, or goes numb.

When an athlete shows signs of hypothermia or frostbite, he or she should:

• Move to a warm room or shelter
• Remove any wet clothing
• Warm up under layers of dry blankets or clothing
• Seek medical attention

Chilblains

Extended exposure to cold and wet conditions can also lead to itchy and swollen red patches of skin known as chilblains. These small lesions usually clear up in a matter of weeks – especially if the weather is warming. To prevent and treat chilblains, dress your athlete in layers of loose-fitting clothing and limit the amount of skin that is exposed to the elements. If you do notice chilblains on your athletes’ body, keep in mind that they should go away on their own. Do not cause a drastic change in temperature by putting their hands or feet under hot water or near a heater. Also, do not massage or put lotions or creams on the affected area.

This article has been clinically reviewed by Greg Canty, MD Sports Medicine Physician

Learn more about the Sports Medicine Center at Children's Mercy.

Student-Athletes are at risk for illness during competition season due to:

• Frequent and extended travel
• High-training volume and competition with less recovery time
• Different climates and altitudes
• Inadequate sleep
• Anxiety about performances
• Insufficient intake of food and fluids
• Air borne pathogens in planes, busses and vans

Here are some immune boosting foods:

Meal and Snack Ideas:

• Scrambled eggs with spinach and garlic
• Greek yogurt with orange slices, strawberries, kiwis
• Green tea instead of coffee
• Top salad with beets or citrus fruits
• Add sliced lemon to water bottle
• Sprinkle powdered ginger on rice
• Add dark greens or beets to recovery smoothie

Immuno Boost Shot

• ½ cup orange juice
• ¼ tsp minced garlic
• 1 tsp powdered ginger
• ½ tsp curcumin powder
• ½ tsp cinnamon
• 2 tsp honey

Shake in blender bottle and enjoy!

Source: United States Olympic Committee Sports Nutrition Team

This article has been clinically reviewed by Lora Edwards, MEd, RD, LD, CSSD

Learn more about Sports Medicine at Children's Mercy.

When Emily Feuerborn started playing soccer at age 5, she wanted to be just like her two sisters. She would wake up and count the minutes until she could lace up her cleats and run onto the field where her soccer team practiced.

“I would go to all of the practices, work outside of practice in my backyard or at the high school soccer field and go to extra training sessions that my club offered,” the now-junior said. “It just kind of became my outlet.”

But during the summer, two weeks before high school tryouts her sophomore year, Feuerborn and her goalie collided. Feuerborn flipped into the air and when she landed on the ground, she fell in pain.

Her leg moved in a direction it is not supposed to, and she sustained a posterolateral corner injury. Initially, doctors thought she might be able to rest and recover within three weeks. After more tests, however, they learned needed surgery and that she could not return to the field for months.

“I was just kind of in this hole,” Feuerborn said, admitting she became angry.

Anger is not unique to competitive student-athletes like Feuerborn, who are sidelined because of injury. According to Becky Wiseman, a sports family therapist at Children’s Mercy, many student-athletes struggle emotionally after an injury.

“Typically, they have their practice schedule, their game schedule, it is kind of their identity and a lot of their life,” Wiseman said. “When that changes, within moments, that adjustment of who they are now and what they do changes.”

“A lot worry about falling behind, losing their spot, how will coaches respond when they come back, how will their teammates respond,” Wiseman said. “It is an adjustment period for athletes, and parents need to know that they may see some changes in their athletes.”

To help with the emotional toll, Children’s Mercy has teamed physical therapists with sports therapists, like Wiseman. The goal is to help injured athletes heal physically and emotionally.

“There’s a lot of stress that comes with playing sports,” physical therapist Kayla Greiner said. “And there’s a stigma about mental health. [We’re] allowing this generation of kids to know it’s OK to get help at any point in your life.”

“She was in a great deal of pain,” Wiseman said. “There was also a little bit of anger because she had been injured and was really feeling like she was playing well and heading in the direction she wanted to with her sport and that is when injury occurred. And the process was taking longer than initially thought.”

Now, both women agree Feuerborn is happy.

“I can’t wait to just have that feeling of getting on the field again and putting on my cleats and putting my hair in a ponytail,” Feuerborn said. “And just for an hour and a half not worrying about anything except soccer. There is a path that I am going on, and it will take me where it needs to be.”

See the full story via KSHB 41

Learn more about the Sports Medicine Center at Children's Mercy

Instead of every year, high school athletes in Missouri are now required to get physical exams every other year. It's a rule change that has some pediatricians worried, but may come as a relief for parents and student-athletes who are ultimately on the hook for paying for the exam.

• Dr. Natasha Burgert, pediatrician, Pediatric Associates
• Dr. Greg Canty, Medical Director, Children's Mercy Sports Medicine Center

Listen to the full interview via KCUR

Learn more about the Sports Medicine Center at Children's Mercy

“So what?” You say. Well, they’re also the kids who had backflipping contests at recess in grade school—the kids the teachers couldn’t stop.

“I used to do like 30 backflips in a row,” Shalmare said. “Shalai and I would compete to see who could do the most. The teacher was like, ‘How do we make them stop?’”

And they’re the kids who have channeled that same backflipping energy into playing varsity sports. Shalai, a 17-year-old senior, is a stand-out volleyball and basketball player for the Northeast Vikings. Shalmare, 15 and a sophomore, excels at football, basketball and track, and is hoping to play baseball in the spring as well.

But these siblings also share a unique challenge—both were born deaf. Plus, Shalmare lost the vision in his right eye at age 6.

Do they let that stop them though? “No,” Shalmare said. “We’re just like everyone else.”

Turning disabilities into abilities

Mom Taiwanna Kinney has two older normal-hearing children, but when Shalai was born, she noticed her baby wasn’t saying words like “momma” or “dada,” when the other kids did.

“I took Shalai for a check-up at Children’s Mercy, and they referred us to the ENT Clinic and Speech and Hearing,” Taiwanna said. “They tested her hearing and diagnosed her as deaf.”

When Shalmare was born, Taiwanna noticed he didn’t seem to be hitting his developmental milestones for speech and hearing either.

“I took him to Children’s Mercy and found out he was deaf, too. They thought it was hereditary,” she said. But Taiwanna never treated her children differently.

“Even though I knew they couldn’t hear me, I always talked to my kids like they could,” Taiwanna said. “Shalai and Shalmare are the most-gifted, magnificent kids who are hearing impaired that I have ever seen in my life. If I didn’t tell you they were deaf, you probably wouldn’t know.”

And Shalmare has another challenge without the vision in his right eye.

“We were at a family barbecue in the park, and I was climbing a tree,” he said. “I fell and a stick hit me in the eye. I’ve had four surgeries in that eye, but nothing has worked to bring my vision back. I’ve come to terms with the fact that I’m never going to see out of that eye again.”

But that hasn’t stopped him either.

Shalmare and Shalai have excelled at all they do. They’ve turned disabilities into abilities.

Interpreting in the classroom AND the locker room

To be sure they can meet the communication challenges they face, interpreters accompany Shalai and Shalmare throughout their day, in the classroom, at practices, on the court and on the field.

The Kansas City Missouri Public School District has 17 deaf language interpreters who work with 35 deaf students throughout the day.

The relationships between the interpreters and students are critical to their success, and Shalmare says they do a wonderful job.

“I feel like I am on a level playing field with the other students,” Shalmare said. “All the interpreters are cool.”

Preventing injury

With Shalai and Shalmare both playing sports at such a competitive level, they’re also at risk for injury, just like any other student-athlete. That’s where Eric Piatchek, MS, LAT, ATC, athletic trainer with Children’s Mercy Sports Medicine comes in.

Eric is a certified, licensed athletic trainer who is based at Northeast High School. His primary concern is the optimal health of the student-athletes. He’s present at games and practices to ensure all student-athletes are safer, and when someone gets injured, he evaluates the injury, and refers the student on for specialty care if needed.

Eric communicates with the siblings just like he would with any other student-athlete, but an interpreter is always on hand to facilitate their conversations.

Shalai has worked with Eric recently following an injury to her left knee at an away game. “I received a text from the coach about Shalai,” Eric said. “I assessed her knee and I’ve given her some stretches and exercises to do that should help. I also ice her knee when it’s really bothering her.”

“I feel like it’s grinding on the inside,” Shalai said. “Exercises and ice have helped, but it’s still bothering me, so I have an appointment to see a sports medicine specialist at Children’s Mercy.”

Eric also has helped Shalmare deal with a recent injury to his wrist. “I was going out for a pass during practice, and another player’s facemask hit the bone on top of my wrist.”

In addition to wrapping Shalmare’s wrist, Eric referred him for an X-ray to see if the bone was broken. “It wasn’t broken, I just had a bone bruise,” Shalmare said. “I didn’t realize that bone could hurt so much.”

Because he plays both receiver and defensive back, Shalmare is on the football field almost the entire game, and also has been dealing with chronic leg cramps. “Eric gave me a list of foods to eat, like bananas. And I drink pickle juice. It works! No more cramps,” Shalmare said.

Slam dunk!

With basketball season just around the corner, Shalai and Shalmare are both gearing up to play. Shalmare describes his sister as really fast. “She’s tiny, but she’s a fighter,” he said.

Shalmare is right. Just 4’11” tall, Shalai plays point guard and shooting guard on the Vikings, and she’s been invited to join the U.S.A. National Deaf Olympics basketball team this summer in Canada.

“I love stealing the ball,” she said. “My short-term goal is to be able to play with the Deaf Olympics team.”

At 5’ 10” tall, Shalmare’s goal is to be able to slam dunk that basketball this season.

“My coach asked, ‘Are you willing to do the work to make that happen?’” Shalmare said. “I said yeah, so he put a 40-lb. dumbbell in each hand and had me jump onto a 3-foot high box from a standing position. Today, I finally dunked!”

Bright futures

Now a senior, Shalai spends her mornings at Gladstone Elementary School teaching sign language to other deaf children in collaboration with Manual Career and Technical School. In the afternoons, she goes to Paseo where her major is dance. After graduation, she wants to attend Johnson County Community College and continue playing sports.

Though only a sophomore, Shalmare hopes he’ll get a scholarship to play basketball or football in college. In the classroom, he’s focused on his studies, his friends and his future.

“I stay positive. I don’t mind being deaf, I don’t mind losing the vision in my right eye,” Shalmare said. “I’m a smart guy. I have good grades. I’m at the top of my class.”

The siblings have lots of support from one another, friends, family, teachers, coaches, interpreters and their mother.

“Shalai and I are close. Close. I mean forever,” Shalmare said.

Shalai just grins from ear to ear when asked about Shalmare. “Sometimes we argue at home. He’s always bothering me, but I really love him. We have fun together.”

Taiwanna said the siblings have a very, very special bond. “They’re close. I raised them to stick together, to look out for one another.”

But having Eric on the sidelines is an extra level of protection she’s also thankful for.

“Children’s Mercy has done a wonderful job of helping me keep Shalai and Shalmare healthy,” she said. “They’ve been there for us since they were babies, but they’re strong now. They have turned pain into power. They’re not afraid. They’re determined and I’m proud of them.”

Learn more about the Sports Medicine Center at Children's Mercy

Sporting Kansas City and Children’s Mercy will showcase their Red Card anti-bullying program with five assemblies at local elementary and middle schools in the coming weeks.

Coinciding with National Bullying Prevention Month in October, each assembly will feature participation from a Sporting KC player, a Children’s Mercy specialist, Sporting KC commentator Nate Bukaty and club mascot Blue. The first event took place Monday, Sept. 30 as Sporting defender Graham Smith visits Tonganoxie Middle School in Tonganoxie, Kansas.

Sporting and Children’s Mercy launched the Red Card initiative in 2018, uniting local communities to take a stance against one of the most significant social issues impacting children and teens nationwide. The innovative campaign is designed to build bullying awareness and empower youth and adults so they can help prevent and intervene in bullying.

Sporting’s support of the Red Card campaign has been further manifested through social media promotion, video segments on match broadcasts, integrations at youth soccer clinics and in-stadium activations at Children’s Mercy Park, including backpack tag and pop socket giveaways, informative player trading cards and tip cards with anti-bullying instructions.

For more information and to utilize an array of online resources, visit RedCardKC.com.

One in five teens say they've had at least one concussion, and a new study finds young girls might be waiting too long to get treatment.

Ashley Williams makes tumbling passes look easy. She loves cheerleading, especially high-level competition.

But right now, she's not cheering on the sidelines or training to compete. During a high school cheer practice last month, she was dropped from the air, her head hitting the ground.

"I immediately felt off. The lights were hurting my eyes. I felt nauseous. My head was hurting," she said.

The diagnosis: a concussion.

"It really is important for parents to know what's going on, the athlete to know what's going on, to recognize signs and symptoms," said Dr. Brian Harvey, a pediatric sports medicine physician with Children's Mercy.

"If you get into a clinic within seven days, your symptoms typically don't last as long," Harvey said. "So it's really important once you get that head or neck injury that you have symptoms associated with it, to get pulled out and get evaluated by your physician or a sports medicine doctor so your symptoms potentially won't last as long."

Thankfully, that's just what Ashley did.

The team at Children's Mercy Sports Medicine Center in KCK have been helping her regain balance, sharpen control, vision, and honing her skills, with the goal of being competition ready by spring.

"It's been amazing. I feel like I'd not be nearly as far along with my progress of getting better without this," Williams said.

Doctors say continuing to improve concussion awareness and education, and making sure head injuries are spotted fast in both male and female athletes, is key to helping all students like Ashley get back to normal including to the sports they love.

See the full story via Fox 4

Learn more about the Sports Medicine Center at Children's Mercy

Whether you're trying to lose weight, gain muscle or stay strong and healthy as you age, protein is vital.

Protein is one of three macronutrients – along with carbohydrates and fat – that your body needs to build and repair tissue, form muscle and transport nutrients, says Erin Coates, a registered dietitian with Cleveland Clinic Wellness. Together, these macronutrients are amino acids, which comprise "the building blocks of our body's cells," Coates says.

Registered dietitian Lora Edwards agrees, adding that protein is essential not just for our muscles, but also to develop and maintain healthy bones, skin and hair. She's a senior clinical nutrition specialist at the Sports Medicine Center at Children's Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, Missouri. "It's also vital for our immunity and even makes up the hemoglobin that carries oxygen in your blood," Edwards says.

In 2015, a comprehensive review in Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism concluded that consuming 25 to 35 grams of protein per meal was sufficient for most adults. However, some people, especially those trying to lose weight or gain muscle, as well as older adults, likely need more protein. 

The importance of getting enough protein is clear. But how much protein is enough versus too much? The current recommended daily allowance for adults is 0.8 grams per kilogram of an individual's body mass (or 0.36 grams per pound of body weight). 

To determine an individual's ideal protein intake, the efficiency at which the body uses protein is an important consideration. Why? When it comes to absorbing and using protein to build tissue, muscle cells don't operate like an on/off switch. Instead, they act more like a dimmer, where, at a certain point, they gradually become less efficient at using each amino acid to build muscle tissue.

Read the full story via U.S. News & World Report

Learn more about Nutrition Services at Children's Mercy

Learn more about the Sports Medicine Center at Children's Mercy

By Dr. Mark Fisher, Director, Adaptive Sports Medicine Program, Division of Pediatric Rehabilitation

Staying active benefits all children, but for kids with physical or cognitive differences, sports can be a game-changer for their overall wellness.

Children with disabilities are prone to be socially isolated and much less physically active than their peers, regardless of impairment. Participating in an adaptive sport, which puts athletes on an even playing field, builds teamwork, confidence and character. Even more important for these kids, it can help strengthen the body as well as improve endurance, flexibility, reduce body fat, and increase lean mass and bone density. Kids who play sports are also less likely to be anxious or depressed and are more independent later in life.

There is a sport for everyone - from those who are just learning to become active to elite para-athletes, but you must do it safely. Here are few tips on how to introduce your kids to adaptive sports.

Start early

It’s never too late to get active, but the sooner the better. I recommend exposing children to organized sports and activities between 4-6 years of age. This is when kids start branching out from individual play. It will also help set them up for a childhood of activity. If you wait until adolescence, your child may identify with being non-athletic and may not try a sport because they believe they can’t do it.

De-medicalize sports

Many children born with an impairment grow up in an environment of medicine, and physical and occupational therapy. Participating in a sport allows your child to be active outside of the therapy setting and helps them feel more like other kids their age. It also teaches what they can do with their bodies and how to do it safely. These are skills they can take with them through adulthood. For instance, if they go to college, they can use the recreation center without needing 1:1 guidance to be physically active. De-medicalizing sports allows for these kids to have a lot more fun and engagement when it comes to physical activity.

Speak with a specialist

Before getting involved in any activity or sport, do your due diligence. Speak with a specialist familiar with the sport and environment your child will be participating in. Having someone familiar with managing physical and cognitive impairment in sport is valuable for detecting and evaluating any challenges that might arise.

If your child has a mild impairment, they may be able to participate in a mainstream sport, but extra considerations may be needed when it comes to stretching or bracing. If your child has a more severe impairment, then you’ll want to get connected with the right opportunities that will maximize your child’s capabilities and strengths.

Let your child have input

The adaptions of sport are nearly endless, so allow your child to pursue the sport or activity they show interest in. There's always an opportunity to progress and achieve more through proper training and participation in a sport or physical activity.

Get the appropriate evaluation

Before starting any activity, your child should have a comprehensive pre-participation physical evaluation to make sure it is safe to participate. This is one of the most important things you need to do because research shows pre-participation exams uncover medical concerns in 30-40% of children with special needs. (Compare that to 1-3% for the typical developing adolescent that undergoes a sports physical.)

You’ll also want to make sure your child is cleared by a doctor familiar with adaptive sports specific medical considerations such as medications, equipment, changes in bone density, the risk associated with seizures, the risk associated with contact if there's implanted devices, and whether someone is predisposed to overuse injuries or muscle strains. Without proper technique and guidance, your child is likely at greater risk of injury.

Find available resources to help

Unfortunately, a lot of sports-specific equipment can be expensive, which can be a financial burden for families. Most parents don’t want to spend thousands of dollars on a sport their child may or may not be interested after just a few weeks or months.

Many people don’t realize there are grants available to help fund equipment purchases. (See the resources we put together below.) There are also camps that provide the opportunity for your child to try a sport with the option of renting equipment or using equipment that’s been donated. That way, you don’t have to make a commitment or go through the grant process until your child is sure they enjoy the sport.

Empower your child

Society often tells kids with disabilities that they can’t do certain things. By helping your child focus on what they can do and encourage them to push themselves, even when it’s hard, you’re putting your child in a position to be successful whatever their goal might be. Maximizing function is the component that matters most to these kids, and physical activity and sport participation is a powerful way to augment and build that function.

Learn more about the Adaptive Sports Program at Children's Mercy.

Learn more about Accessible Sports in Greater Kansas City by checking out programs and a calendar of events.

Learn more about some additional local/national resources and grants that are available:

Greater Kansas City Area Adaptive Fitness and Recreation

• Accessible Sports Greater Kansas City
• Making KC Accessible for All
• Iron Adaptive
• Disabled But Not Really
• The Whole Person
• Midwest Adaptive Sports
• Ability KC

• KC Parks and Rec
• Belton Parks and Rec
• Jackson County Parks and Rec
• Johnson County Park and Rec
• Lee's Summit Parks and Rec
• Liberty Parks and Rec
• Smithville Parks and Rec

Regional

• Wichita Adaptive Sports (Wichita, MO)
• Disabled Athlete Sports Association (St. Louis, MO)
• Adaptive Sports Iowa (Ames, IA)
• Endeavor Games/UCO Center for Adaptive Sports (Edmond, OK)

National

• Move United Sport
• USA Paralympic Programs

Adaptive Equipment

Many items are not covered by insurance, but some can occasionally be covered if you have an evaluation by a physician with adaptive sports equipment experience.

• Equipment Providers maintained by Move United
• National Grant List maintained by Move United
• Variety KC

Lora Edwards, senior clinical nutrition specialist at Children’s Mercy, is one of only 3,000 board certified sports dieticians in the United States. She has more than 30 years of experience in youth, collegiate and pro athletics, and has counseled athletes in every sport.

We asked Lora how eating the right foods can help fuel student-athletes for games, prevent injury and help recover from injury faster.

Do athletes in different sports have different nutrition needs?

Lora: Yes, every sport is different and as a sports dietician you really need to know the energy demands of the sport – is the athlete running a lot, is it more of a sprint or long distance, is it a contact sport, does the athlete need to gain strength and mass or need to cut weight?

In soccer for example, athletes run between 5-7 miles during a match. It’s a tough sport in a way because players sprint, but also need endurance. So my job is to calculate the energy demands for that sport and make sure the athlete is fueling properly.

What is proper fueling?

Lora: Athletes need the right balance of carbohydrates and proteins before and after a big game or tournament.

The night before, the athlete should have a good-balanced meal or what we call the athlete’s plate. Half of the plate should be carbohydrate sources such as whole grains, fruits and diary. A quarter of the plate should be lean proteins and the other quarter vegetables.

Then 3-4 hours before the game starts, athletes should eat a lean protein and wholegrain carbohydrates - something that won’t upset the stomach.

Thirty minutes before playing, athletes should consume high glycemic carbohydrates such as fruit, fruit chews or fruit juice – something easily digestible that will give a boost of energy and top off the carbohydrates stores.

After the game, athletes needs a ratio of four carbohydrates to one protein to help with recovery. One doesn’t need to purchase expensive energy or protein drinks, because chocolate milk works just as well and has the correct carbohydrate to protein ratio that’s needed.

When athletes are fueled properly they get better sleep, are in a better mood and perform better. When under-fueled, kids get depressed, they’re stressed out, get over-trained, sleep poorly and performance goes down.

What carbohydrates should athletes be eating?

Lora: Most athletes simply don’t get enough calories. Carbohydrates good for fueling the body include fruit, yogurt, whole grains bread and/or bagel, trail mix (without sugary candy), granola bars, peanut butter and turkey sandwiches.

Should athletes consume sports drinks?

Lora: It really depends. There are several great products on the market that have the correct ratio of electrolytes to carbohydrates, but most of the time (especially for the younger athletes) it’s not necessary. Our rule of thumb is to save sports drinks for the three H’s – when it’s really hot, when practice or a game is over an hour long and the activity is really hard. Otherwise, water is the best option.

How does nutrition play a role in injury prevention?

Lora: Athletes who under-fuel will get fatigued and that’s when the injuries happen. For example, basketball is lot of stop-and-go, running up and down the court and switching directions. Players who are under-fueled or more likely to sprain an ankle. Stress fractures will also happen if an athlete is low in Vitamin D and calcium stores. Athletes need proper vitamins, minerals, carbohydrates and protein to stay healthy to help protect the tendons, ligaments and bones.

How does nutrition play a role in recovery?

Lora: Proper nutrition is also needed to recover and repair the body from injury. When athletes don't get enough carbohydrates, the body uses protein for fuel, which prevents wounds from healing. All those microscopic tears in the muscle don't heal and it will continue to get worse. When a person uses all the calories for energy there’s nothing left to build and restore the body.

How important is meal preparation?

Lora: What I always tell my athletes is nutrition is just as important as practice and skill development - it all goes together. It's just as important to plan and prep nutrition and eat healthy, as it is to practice your sport and get better. That’s why when I meet with someone, I write out a sample plan based on what that person will eat. I'm not going to tell someone to make eggs if they won't eat eggs. It has to be realistic and personalized, if not, it won’t work. An athlete will not get to where they want to be if they don't have healthy nutrition in their body. Nutrition is the one magic bullet to help improve performance.

Learn more about nutrition for injury recovery in athletes.

Learn more about Sports Medicine at Children’s Mercy.

Sporting Kansas City defender Graham Zusi has provided a special, behind-the-scenes look at MLS All-Star Week to one of his biggest fans back home in Kansas City.

One day before taking the field against Spanish giants Atletico Madrid in the 2019 MLS All-Star Game presented by Target, Zusi hosted REX the Robot at MLS All-Star training on Tuesday at Exploria Stadium in Orlando, Florida.

REX is a remote experience robot consisting of an iPad on a pole with a pair of self-balancing wheels that lets patients at Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City experience Major League Soccer in a way that even kids physically attending the games cannot.

This time around, REX was steered by 14-year-old Lymon, a patient at Children’s Mercy who was able to communicate with Zusi and the entire team of MLS All-Stars.

Venturing back to his home state of Florida for All-Star Game festivities, Zusi made sure to bring REX along for the trip. As a result, Lymon had the opportunity to meet Major League Soccer’s best players.

When patients such as Lymon are in control of REX, they’re able to see live video and hear what’s going on around the stadium. From the iPad, they can drive the robot forward or backward, turn left and right, even get taller or shorter to have a better look around.

Read the full story via Sporting Kansas City

Learn more about Rex the Robot

What is good mental wellness?

Our mental wellness can be a helpful and positive force in our lives. When we care for and practice mental wellness it allows our mind to become a positive partner in working towards achievements, but if not cared for or considered our mind can become a negative distraction to our goals. Mental wellness allows us to appreciate and value good relationships with others, and has the ability to express and manage a range of emotions on a daily basis. It’s also being able to identify and navigate through unforeseen circumstances, such as an injury.

At the end of the day, student-athletes are still teenagers and they’re dealing with a lot socially and academically, in addition to playing competitive sports. Here’s how you can help when it comes to your child’s mental wellness.

Tips for parents

• Understand the message you’re sending

How you react on the sidelines or in the stands is critically important when your child is playing a sport, no matter what their age. Think of the message it sends if you get upset or lose your temper because they miss a shot or strike out. You’re telling your child that any mistake they make is big time and detrimental to their dreams – when it’s really not. Help your child understand mistakes happen and it’s ok to move on.

• Know the difference between anxiety vs. nerves

It's normal for your child to feel nervous and have butterflies in their stomach before a big game, but it becomes a bigger problem when those nerves start disrupting their world. Anxiety is when your child is no longer having fun or connecting with the game, has negative thoughts about the sport, doesn’t feel satisfied after playing or has a hard time identifying the good in their performance. If you sense your child has anxiety, you can help them learn how to cope or seek help from a clinically licensed social worker that can teach your child how to manage anxiety effectively.

• Learn how to identify depression

14-years-old is a critical age to start monitoring your child for anxiety and depression. Check-in regularly. Most kids will start to close off from the rest of the world when depressed, so be aware if your child doesn’t want to come out of the bedroom and is not willing to engage with the rest of the family or friends. Emotional dysregulation – angry outbursts, behavioral outbursts or aggression before or after practice and games - is also another warning sign.

Many times, kids will even tell parents something isn’t right. Your response is incredibly important. Thank your child for telling you and let your child know that you’ll work together on next steps.

• Have an open line of communication

Having an open dialogue with your child is important, but you also have to communicate that nothing is off the table. You can’t be afraid to have the difficult conversations. Your child will avoid telling you if they have anxiety or are feeling depressed if they think it’s not what you want to hear. No child wants to be a burden.

Mental health is mysterious to people, so help your athlete understand what you will do if they come to you for help. If that’s taking your child to a therapist – let your child know what to expect – and that they don’t have to be a happy person after therapy. Therapy is place where they can just talk and get a different perspective.

• Teach kids to problem-solve

Kids are parented differently today than they were years ago. Children had a lot more independent play in the past.

For instance, if a couple of kids were out riding bikes 20 years ago, playing baseball and broke a window they had to figure out between the two of them how they were going to fix it, and what they were going to tell mom and dad when they got home. Struggling was a part of growing up.

Today, play is mostly organized and struggle-free. There’s always a parent or a coach who can intervene when there’s a problem or something goes wrong. There’s less opportunity for a child to problem-solve on their own.

So, it’s not surprising that when a child today encounters a struggle it really rocks their world. Everything they’ve grown up with tells them they shouldn't have to struggle. Need directions – use GPS. Need information – look it up on Google. Have a question – ask Siri or Alexa.

As a parent, show your child how to resolve issues, but don’t do it for them. Teach your child how to go to the coach or a teammate when there’s an issue. Give your child the tools they need to deal with emotional regulation, whether it’s losing a game or not making the big play.

We’re too quick to intervene and we’re not teaching our children how to handle situations on their own.

• Help your child with adjustment

Athletes with sports injuries need to learn how to adjust. Help your child realize that things are going to feel different. Your child may have looked forward to going to practice before an injury, but now is frustrated or feels lost at practice because they can’t participate or do the things they once did.

Help your child understand that the team and sport will still be part of their world as much as possible, but it will be different until they heal. Let your child know it can still be a positive experience.

Coping is going to be an important development through this adjustment time. A lot of athletes believe they’ll be slammed into neutral with an injury and lose their skillset. The truth is there is value that can be gained during this time, whether it’s learning patience, how to deal with disappointment or how to push through difficult times such as physical therapy.

• Provide support

There are many ways to provide the support your child needs, whether your child speaks with you, a sports therapist, a physical therapist or a doctor.

Peer-to-peer support can also be beneficial. It can be isolating for athletes who have been injured, battle depression or have performance issues, because many times their friends can’t relate. We started a free monthly support group to help connect our teenage sports medicine patients with other student-athletes who have faced similar situations, whether pre-op, post-op or someone who has already gone through it and can share their experience.

• Empower your child

Help your child understand that emotions will come and go. Great moments will come and go, just as awful moments come and go. Challenges help them grow and sometimes growth doesn't feel great. Teach them to feel empowered with that and to let them know they can deal with more than they think.

Learn more about Sports Medicine at Children’s Mercy.

This improved awareness decreases the risk of injury during competition. Dynamic stretching prepares the full body for competition by increasing the blood flow, elevating the heart rate and elevating the respiratory rate. Research shows that athletes following a dynamic stretching protocol versus static stretching perform significantly better regarding balance, agility and movement.

Pregame Routine Stretches

Here are a few common dynamic stretches* to add to a pregame routine:​

Ankling

• Lift your toes up and back down to achieve full range of motion, while walking forward on your toes.

Walking on the outside edge of your feet to strengthen your ankles

Knee hugs

• Bring your knee up towards your chest, maintaining your balance. Alternate with both sides.

Ankle hugs

• Pull your heel towards your bottom. Alternate with both sides.

Inchworm

• Place hands on the floor in front of you, keeping your knees as straight as possible. Walk your hands out into a plank position then walk your feet up to your hands and repeat.

Open the Gate

• Bring your knee up, out to the side, and back down. Alternate with both sides.

Straight-leg Kicks

• Keep your knee straight and kick up as high as you can, reaching across with your opposite arm to touch your toes. Alternate with both sides.

Forward Lunges

• Keep a 90-degree angle bend with the front knee and straight back leg. You should feel a stretch on the back leg, in the front of the hip. Alternate with both sides.

Lateral Lunge

• Keep a 90-degree angle in the bent knee and opposite knee straight. You should feel a stretch on your inner thigh. Alternate with both sides.

Backward Lunges

• Keep a 90-degree angle bend with the front knee and slight bend in the back leg. Alternate with both sides, moving backward.

High Knees

• Lifting your knees towards your chest with quick feet. Alternate on both sides.

Butt Kicks

• Bring your heel up towards your bottom with quick feet. Alternate on both sides.

A Skips:

• Skip high, not far, exaggerating the movement of your arms and driving your knee up in the air quickly. Alternate with each leg.

*All these activities are performed moving forward. Recommended distance of at least 50 feet, for each warmup activity.

A few common dynamic warm-ups for the arms are arm circles, resistance bands or tubing that replicate components of the upcoming activity, bear crawls or inchworm variations.

It’s important that your student-athlete is focusing on good form with proper core and glute stability when doing these movements to get the full benefit. A few key components include:

1. Keeping the core tight by not allowing the trunk to tilt side to side
2. Proper quads and hamstrings co-contraction by keeping the knee behind the toes
3. Glute stability by having the knee out over the little toe with all lunging warm-ups

Postgame Stretches

Static stretching does have benefits to gain flexibility, but it is recommended to be done post-activity and after competitions. It is always important to remember that each student-athlete has individual needs of which there may need to be unique attributes to the static stretching routine. Here are some suggested post-match stretching ideas:

Standing-calf stretch

• Hold 30 seconds, repeat 1-3* times on each leg.
• Important: Keep all toes facing the wall, with feet parallel.

Seated-hamstring stretch

• Hold 30 seconds, repeat 1-3* times on each leg.
• Important: Keep back upright, lean forward leading with your chest.

Supine-quad stretch

• With your leg off the table, hold onto your ankle to feel a stretch on the top of your thigh. Try to allow the knee to drop below the table height. Hold 30 seconds, repeat 1-3* times on each leg.

Half-kneel, hip-flexor stretch

• Hold 30 seconds, repeat 1-3* times on each leg.
• Important: Keep your back straight and hips forward, to feel the stretch in the front of the hip on the leg that is down.

Pigeon stretch

• Hold 30 seconds, repeat 1-3 times on each leg.
• You should feel this stretch is your buttocks.

Foam rolling IT band

• Do for 30 seconds to 1 minute.

Foam rolling Quads

• Do for 30 seconds to 1 minute.

Foam rolling Glutes

• Do for 30 seconds to 1 minute.

*One repetition to maintain flexibility. If you have tightness in this area, you should be doing 3 repetitions.

Learn more about Sports Medicine at Children's Mercy

For every kid eager to hit the gridiron, there’s a parent anxious about what might happen to him. Injuries can be par for the course with any physical activity, and chances are, you know someone (or are someone) who has experienced a concussion, a brain injury caused by a mild blow or jolt to the head. Thankfully, with increased information, many brain injuries that take place are now being properly diagnosed. Here’s what you need to be aware of as your child gets ready to hit the field.

Symptoms Might Not Be What You Think

Many people erroneously think that a concussion can’t be sustained unless an athlete loses consciousness. Interestingly, only 10 percent of those who experience a concussion black out. Because every brain injury is unique, reactions to it can be as well. However, Dr. Brian Harvey of Children’s Mercy’s Sports Medicine Center says one tell-tale sign impacts almost all concussion recipients: headache. “The number one symptom an athlete experiences after sustaining a concussion is a headache,” Harvey says. “More than 90 percent of concussions will have a headache. That means there are some athletes, 10 percent or so, who experience more dizziness, sensitivity to light or noise, fatigue, difficulty sleeping, difficulty with concentration or focus as their predominant symptom. Any or all of these symptoms could worsen with physical or mental activity and may indicate the athlete has suffered a concussion. It is important to be evaluated if there is a concern for a concussion.”

Precautions Matter

There’s truly no way to prevent all concussions from taking place, but parents, coaches and athletes can do their part to mitigate risks. Coaches can start by instructing athletes on proper technique and form when playing sports. Athletes should be fitted and wear all proper safety equipment, as well as abide by the rules and report all concussion symptoms. Parents can keep a watchful eye and take children in for a proper evaluation should symptoms arise.

Who’s at Greatest Risk?

• Females (compared to male counterparts)
• Younger children (due to underdeveloped brains)
• Those with previous concussions or TBIs
• Athletes during games (opposed to during practice)

Read the full story via KC Parent 

Learn more about Sports Medicine at Children's Mercy

This improved awareness decreases the risk of injury during competition. Dynamic stretching prepares the full body for competition by increasing the blood flow, elevating the heart rate and elevating the respiratory rate. Research shows that athletes following a dynamic stretching protocol versus static stretching perform significantly better regarding balance, agility and movement.

A few common dynamic stretches to add to a pregame routine are toe walks, heel walks, straight-leg marches, ankle hugs, hip rotations in and out, side lunges, forward lunges, back lunges, high knees and butt kicks.

A few common dynamic warm-ups for the arms are arm circles, resistance bands or tubing that replicate components of the upcoming activity, bear crawls or inchworm variations.

It’s important that your student-athlete is focusing on good form with proper core and glute stability when doing these movements to get the full benefit. A few key components include:

1. Keeping the core tight by not allowing the trunk to tilt side to side
2. Proper quads and hamstrings co-contraction by keeping the knee behind the toes
3. Glute stability by having the knee out over the little toe with all lunging warm-ups

Static stretching does have benefits to gain flexibility, but it is recommended to be done post-activity and after competitions. It is always important to remember that each student-athlete has individual needs of which there may need to be unique attributes to the dynamic stretching routine.

Learn more about Sports Medicine at Children's Mercy.

To begin, there should be some type of return-to-throwing progression implemented. Coming out of the winter break with some degree of time off and rest (two to four months is recommended), it is important to build the arm back up for the season. There is usually cold weather early in the season in the Midwest, so proper buildup of throwing volume should be completed.

Re-focus attention to strength and posture, especially in the mid-back and scapular (shoulder blade) region. Adolescents sit for prolonged periods of time in the classroom, in front of their video games and have a tendency to be less active in the winter, so their posture tends to decline. The muscles in the middle and upper back are critical to support the rotator cuff. Exercises such as lying on your stomach with I, Y and T movements, as well as stretching/mobilizing the thoracic spine can assist in performance, as well as injury prevention.

Finally, there needs to be continued compliance with pitch count recommendations with coaches, families and players assisting in accountability of the limits. The season continues to expand for our student-athletes with spring, summer and fall leagues in recreational, as well as travel-type programs. It is common to see our throwers hurt in April and May, with the inability to participate for the remainder of the season.

Our goal is for the players to enjoy the wonderful games of baseball and softball without missing time due to rotator cuff or other injuries.

For more information on pitch counts, go to www.stopsportsinjuries.com.

Learn more about sports medicine at Children's Mercy.

What is the most exciting research or innovation in your field?

▷Vaccines. There have been many vaccines that have changed the field of otolaryngology. Vaccines for influenza, Strep pneumonia, tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis, Haemophilus B influenzae, measles, mumps, rubella, chicken pox — they all have been game changers for our field. Now, we have the HPV vaccine.

Why did you choose this specialty?

▷I chose otolaryngology because of the variety there is in the field. I love treating children both medically and surgically. I like to treat the whole patient — the enlarged tonsils, the poor sleep quality, the hearing loss — to help them succeed and do their best in life.

What career would you have chosen if you weren’t a doctor?

▷I would be a teacher or a stay-at-home mom. I would volunteer in underprivileged schools. I have a passion for children in general, and I want them to succeed.

Dr. Kevin Latz, M.D. | Pediatric Orthopedics | Children’s Mercy

What is the latest innovation in your field?

▷We’re getting closer to being able to, in certain cases, repair rather than replace the ACL when it is injured. We’re also learning more about ways to avoid certain sports injuries such as ACL tears.

What is one piece of medical advice that you wish patients would follow?

▷Realize that exercise is medicine. Many diseases and conditions we treat with medications and surgery could be better treated and prevented with activity and exercise.

What is the biggest challenge currently facing medicine?

▷How to provide quality care to the most people at the lowest cost. I’d rather have the patients I care for focus on getting well rather than worry about how to pay for their care.

More than 20 Children's Mercy doctors made this year's list. Click here to see 435 Magazine's 2019 Kansas City Top Doctors list.

Standing in a line on the baseline at Koch Arena, Carli McCloud, a Wichita State sophomore majoring in exercise science, is inconspicuous next to the rest of the WSU spirit squad.

There’s no way to tell that five years ago McCloud was diagnosed with osteochondritis dissecans, a degenerative joint disorder in her left elbow. McCloud, a North Newton native, was a superb gymnast at the time and had just won the Kansas all-around state title, but doctors told her that she no longer had a future in athletics.

By the time Carli was 10, she was training 20 hours per week at Folger’s Gymnastics in Andover. When she was 13, the training increased to 24 hours per week, but Carli was also having the most success of her career. That year she won the Level 8, 13-year-old division state all-around title at the U.S. Gymnastics state meet in Wichita.

Not long after, Carli started feeling an nagging pain in her left elbow. Carli trained with the injury for three months, believing the pain would eventually subside. It never did and instead, the pain intensified.

Carli was referred to Children’s Mercy Kansas City, where orthopedic surgeon Donna Pacicca discovered Carli actually had osteochondritis dissecans and could no longer pursue gymnastics — or any athletics.

But after being told she couldn’t do something, Carli was determined to prove that she could. 

Read the full story via The Wichita Eagle

Learn more about the Sports Medicine Center at Children's Mercy

By Jackie Drees

Kevin H. Latz, MD, is a pediatric orthopedic surgeon at Children's Mercy in Kansas City, Mo.

With expertise in sports medicine, Dr. Latz serves as chief and director of Children's Mercy Hospital's Sports Medicine Center.

In 2016, Dr. Latz received Children Mercy's Golden Glove Award, which is awarded for patient safety. He was also named to Kansas City Magazine's Top Doctors list in 2015-16.

Dr. Latz is a fellow of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, American Academy of Pediatrics and Pediatric Orthopaedic Society of North America. He is also a member of Pediatric Research in Sports Medicine and Research in Osteochondritis Dissecans of the Knee.

Read the full story via Becker's Spine Review

Learn more about Sports Medicine at Children's Mercy

Donna M. Pacicca, MD, is a pediatric orthopedic surgeon at Children's Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, Mo.

With expertise in sports medicine, Dr. Pacicca has a special interest in knee, ankle and elbow injuries, limb lengthening and molecular biology of bone formation. Her research interests include anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction and rehabilitation as well as laboratory research of bone cell lineage.

Read the full story via Becker's Spine Review

Learn more about Sports Medicine at Children's Mercy

"But we’re all different," Lexi said. "That’s what makes us who we are."

A tragic lawnmower accident when she was only 4 years old is just one of the many experiences that has shaped Lexi’s life.

"I fell down the front steps at home and slid under the riding lawnmower," she explained. A devastating injury, Lexi lost her left leg below the knee and was ultimately treated at Children’s Mercy. Shortly after the accident, she was fit with a prosthetic leg.

"I was only a preschooler when the accident happened. I remember very little of it," Lexi said. What she does remember is that kids at school could be cruel.

"Kids teased me and wouldn’t play with me," Lexi said. "I would go home in tears and would ask my mom, ‘Why doesn’t anyone like me? Why won’t anyone play with me?’"

Lexi’s parents were quick to point out that other kids’ opinions of her don’t matter. "They taught me people like that aren’t your friends."

Ann Modrcin, MD, Division Director of Rehabilitation Medicine at Children’s Mercy, has worked with Lexi for years, and said unfortunately, the Limb Differences team often sees this pattern.

"We teach our patients to master two things: their own story and self-confidence. In their own words, they learn to confidently state why they are different, and why it doesn’t matter," Dr. Modrcin explained. "Most of the time, an explanation is all another curious child will need, especially when that explanation is given without anger or resentment, followed by an opportunity to play."

For Lexi, the lessons she learned from her parents and the Limb Differences team have worked.

When she was in the second grade, she remembers a girl who was bullying her, teasing her about her leg, telling her she couldn’t run.

"I stood up for myself. I told her, ‘You are no better than me. I can run just like you can.’ She never bothered me again," Lexi said.

And Lexi proved that bully wrong. She went on to run track in high school, and was her school’s team mascot, the cardinal.

"Growing up, Lexi enjoyed trying new things. Her mom would call me every time, at least at the beginning, to make sure it was, ‘Okay with Dr. Ann,’" Dr. Modrcin said. "The question may have been about tumbling, or swimming, or cheerleading, or basketball, or track and field. They learned that my answer was always ‘YES!’ I assured them that Lexi can and will do everything she decides to try, and that she will do it with style. At nearly every visit, they would bring me a photograph of Lexi doing these things, and her images still grace my office nearly 15 years later."

"I have developed a good network of friends who I can talk with about anything. It’s important to have a good support system," Lexi advised. And her family has always been there for her, reminding her what other kids think isn’t important.

"You can’t let what others say or do affect your day or your life," Lexi added. "You have to be 100 percent true to who you are in this world."

That attitude is why Dr. Modrcin recommended Lexi for Red Card KC, a campaign from Children’s Mercy and Sporting Kansas City that encourages kids to speak up against bullying.

By using the iconic soccer red card—a widely recognized symbol of unacceptable behavior—Red Card KC calls attention to the problem of bullying and encourages positive behavior at schools, on playgrounds, and in the community.

"Lexi is a lovely and vivacious young lady," Dr. Modrcin said. "She exudes confidence whether she is wearing her running leg, her everyday leg, or her modeling leg, complete with pedicure and pumps. Her success against bullying will give her a lifetime of resilience and success in other aspects of life. It is no surprise that we now look to Lexi as a role model against bullies on behalf of other young people, especially for children or adolescents with disabilities."

Lexi thinks the Red Card program is a great idea, and she has some advice for the kids who are doing the bullying.

"Look at yourself in the mirror. Why do you feel like it’s okay to tear someone else down? Stop. That’s not necessary. We all just need to live in a world where we can be kind to one another."

For kids who are being bullied, Lexi said she wishes the Red Card had been around when she was growing up.

"I’ve been bullied," Lexi said, "I know how it feels, but you can’t let that stop you. If someone is bullying you, you don’t have to be mean, but don’t take it. If Red Card had been there when I was in school, I would have given that girl who bullied me in the second grade a whole stack of ‘em!"

For more tips on dealing with bullying and more information about Red Card KC

Learn more about the Limb Differences Clinic at Children's Mercy

By Sam Kovzan

Sporting Kansas City and Children’s Mercy have partnered to launch the anti-bullying initiative Red Card: Call It When You See It. The program will unite local communities in taking a stance to end bullying, one of the most significant social issues impact children and teens nationwide.

The Red Card campaign sees Sporting KC and Children’s Mercy join together to create a provocative approach to build awareness and to empower youth and adults so they can help prevent and intervene in bullying. Inspiring individuals to “call it when they see it,” the initiative uses soccer’s red card as a figurative visual tool to highlight instances of bullying in schools and other public settings while also encouraging positive behavior.

• Call It When You See It: RedCardKC.com

“Sporting Kansas City is proud to partner with Children’s Mercy and launch this Red Card campaign against bullying,” Sporting KC President Jake Reid said. “Through participation with middle schools and high schools across the Kansas City metro area, this program will raise awareness about bullying and help everyone prevent it from happening.”

This innovative program will reach mass audiences through community-wide messaging and through participation with area middle schools and high schools in Kansas City.

Children, parents and teachers can visit RedCardKC.com for resources designed to empower, support and raise awareness in the movement against bullying.

“Bullying prevention becomes much more effective when the entire community bands together, and now everyone participating in the Red Card program will be able to call it when they see it,” Sporting KC defender Ike Opara said. “This is a great way for kids, teachers and adults to take a stand against bullying in our schools.”

A key component of the Red Card program is helping the community understand what bullying is, how to identify it and what to do about it. The campaign complements other bullying prevention curriculum programs by engaging students, teachers and parents to build a community of people informed of anti-bullying actions.

“Students who are bullied report more physical symptoms, such as headaches or stomachaches, and mental health issues, such as depression and anxiety, than other students,” said Jo Stueve, Interim CEO of Children’s Mercy. “In some cases, bullying has led to devastating consequences, such as school shootings and suicide. Our hope is that with the Red Card campaign, we can help increase awareness and inspire action within our Kansas City community to put an end to bullying.”

Sporting KC will support the Red Card long-term initiative through in-stadium activations at Children’s Mercy Park, giving away key chains, informative player cards and tip cards with anti-bullying instructions.

“This is an extremely important initiative that we are proud to be involved with and happy to support,” Sporting KC Manager Peter Vermes said. “The Red Card campaign gives us the opportunity to build awareness among adults so that they can intervene when bullying occurs.”

Even Kansas City Mayor Sly James shared his support via Twitter. 

Sporting KC will also back the campaign through robust social media promotion, video segments on match broadcasts, and integrations at youth soccer clinics, community events and school functions involving Sporting KC players. More details will be announced in the near term.

According to the National Center for Educational Statistics, more than one out of every five children will be bullied this year nationwide. Locally, the 2016 Children’s Mercy Community Health Needs Assessment mirrors the national statistics, and reports from across the community reveal that bullying is a community-wide issue that must no longer be ignored.

Learn more about Red Card KC

See the full interview with Sporting KC President Jake Reid and Children's Mercy Interim CEO Jo Stueve:

For more about how these Sporting KC teammates help the hospital and our kids, here are the opening remarks shared by Trista Williams, Volunteer Program Coordinator in Patient & Family Support:

"I have been told many times that I have the best job in the hospital. I can’t argue with that, but what makes my job amazing, is the people that I have the pleasure of working with on a daily basis. One of my hats during my work day, is bringing special events and visitors to our patients. And while some say a “perk” of my job is touring local athletes and celebrities around the hospital, the biggest perk is seeing the faces of our patients when they get to meet these individuals that volunteer their time. Today I have the honor of telling you all a little bit about our September Volunteers of the Month. I cannot talk about what Sporting KC does for our patients without first talking about two important people. There are not enough words to express how much I appreciate the behind the scenes organizers, Brandi Thomas and Lexi Brady. Lexi is unable to be here today, but I didn’t want her to go unnoticed. These two ladies, through their work with the Victory Project, schedule the Sporting KC players to visit our patients at LEAST monthly. If I have an event that I think would benefit from having players attend, they will get them there. Brandi and Lexi constantly talk about our organization and what we do for our patients and families and have made even the most unusual requests happen. Without the two of them, we would not have the presence of our Sporting KC players in our hospital. I started in this role in the beginning of 2016 and Sporting KC and the Victory Project have clocked in over 400 volunteer hours in those two years. They have brought players to prom, to call bingo, to hold a soccer clinic during our Camp Week and they bring the three players to monthly visits that I am going to acknowledge shortly. These ladies are helpers, encouragers, humanitarians and philanthropists. They do so much more than bring players to the hospital and I am lucky have them in my corner when it comes to patient events. What the SKC players do for our patients and families wouldn’t be possible without the organization and outreach of Brandi and Lexi, and for that, Children’s Mercy thanks you!

When you think of Sporting Kansas City, what do you think of? Soccer players. How about when you hear the names Graham Zusi, Tim Melia and Seth Sinovic? I am here to give you other things to think of them besides their soccer talent. While they are a part of a great organization and do some amazing things on the field for our local team, what they do here for our patients is what I want forever engraved in your mind. While we have a variety of Sporting players that come to our special events, these three guys come every month to brighten our patients’ days. You may know Graham for his influential play on the soccer field as a world-class athlete and Tim for his drive and determination as a goalie and Seth for his defensive game as a loyal hometown player, but I know these guys for the heart they wear on their sleeve during their visits with our patients. Whether it’s showing off their artistic side with some glitter and paint (and, let’s be honest I use the word “artistic” loosely, they should stick to soccer) or their competitive and goofy side with an intense game of Hedbanz, these guys never miss a beat when meeting our patients. They have even been known to get down and dirty with the game Toilet Trouble and to belt out a Disney tune upon request. If we ask them to do it, they will make it happen. There have been visits that these guys are the only thing that has gotten a teen patient out of their room during their hospitalization. Not only did these patients leave their room and join their peers in the playrooms, they were actually smiling and having a good time during that visit. There have been multiple visits patients were so excited to meet one of these players, that for that time during that interaction, patients weren’t thinking about their procedure or their diagnosis, they were thinking about how special these three guys made them feel. These guys are busy. Not only do they have games, but they have practices and appearances throughout the community and also families to spend time with. They never let their busy schedules get in the way of their time with our patients. These guys are humble, I think sometimes they are surprised at how excited some of our patients are when they walk into a room. These guys are the reason I became a SKC fan because they are the epitome of what an athlete should strive to be, both on and off the field. These guys are heroes to so many of our patients within these walls. And if you didn’t already know, these guys are inspirational for the time and energy they give our patients during each and every visit.

I found this quote that describes these 5 individuals perfectly. “Volunteers don’t necessarily have the time, they just have the heart”. And boy, do they all have the heart! Please join me in congratulating our September volunteers of the month, Brandi Thomas, Lexi Brady, Seth Sinovic, Graham Zusi and Tim Melia who always make the time when it comes to Children’s Mercy and our patients." 

Learn more about becoming a volunteer at Children's Mercy

When parents think about sports concussions, football immediately comes to mind. Some parents may argue whether kids should even play football because of the risk. But it’s not just football, concussions are relatively common in other contact sports (soccer, basketball, lacrosse, hockey and wrestling) as well. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 10 percent of all contact sport athletes sustain concussions yearly.

Who’s at Risk?

Sports concussions can happen at any age, from pee-wee to collegiate sports, and recreation leagues to competitive sports. Contact sports (football, soccer) have a higher risk than non-contact sports (tennis, volleyball). We know there is an increased risk for our young developing athletes when compared to adult athletes.

Female athletes also have an increased risk for concussion versus male counterparts when you compare them sport-to-sport, such as soccer to soccer, basketball to basketball and softball to baseball. We don’t know why this is the case, but it reiterates the need for further research as anyone can sustain a concussion while playing a sport.

How to Prevent Injuries

The first is to play by the rules of the sport and avoid head contact. Athletes are more likely to be injured during a game versus practice, especially during very competitive play. The data shows up to 25 percent of athletes are injured when not following the rules. That’s why there’s been a recent focus on rule changes in football and soccer to limit head injuries and make contact sports safer.

Second, student athletes should wear equipment that fits appropriately. That means football players should wear a helmet that fits. If it’s too big it increases the player’s risk for a concussion.

Currently, there isn’t any protective headgear or a mouthpiece on the market that prevents concussions, but there are things athletes can do to lower the risks. However, there are ongoing studies to look at equipment that may help.

Signs of a Concussion

We’ve seen an increase in concussions because more education is provided to athletes, coaches, parents and medical personal to recognize the signs and symptoms of concussions. We’re also doing a better job removing athletes from competition with signs of a concussion and documenting their injury better.

Losing consciousness is often thought to be associated with concussions, but actually only happens to less than 10 percent of concussed athletes. Instead, symptoms typically are physical, emotional and cognitive. A concussion should be suspected in the presence of any one or more of the following:

• Headache
• “Pressure in head”
• Neck pain
• Nausea or vomiting
• Dizziness
• Blurred vision
• Balance problems
• Sensitivity to light

Symptoms frequently last two to four weeks and can also include:

• Sensitivity to noise
• Feeling slowed down
• Feeling like “in a fog”
• “Don’t feel right”
• Difficulty concentrating or remembering
• Fatigue or low energy
• Confusion
• Trouble falling and/or staying asleep
• Drowsiness

If there’s any concern an athlete has a concussion, the athlete should be removed from play and not allowed to return until evaluated by a physician. A player should go to the emergency room immediately for repeated vomiting, worsening headache or slurred speech.

Recovery

If an athlete is diagnosed with a concussion, we recommend an active recovery to get back into a regular routine as quickly as possible, which includes a healthy sleep routine, attending school and even light exercise, as long as their symptoms are not getting worse. We recommend working with the school and following a return to learn protocol or progression of getting back into school.

With an active rehab, the average recovery time is 3-4 weeks. Once asymptomatic, we recommend a return to play protocol.

Return to Play Protocol

Step 1: Light aerobic exercise for 20 minutes (stationary cycling/brisk walking) to increase heart rate. If there are not return of symptoms after 24 hours, athlete can proceed to Step 2.

Step 2: Sport-specific moderate exercise for 20 minutes (skating in hockey/running in soccer). If there are not return of symptoms after 24 hours, athlete can proceed to Step 3.

Step 3: Non-contact drills (shooting, dribbling, etc.) and may start lifting weights. If there are not return of symptoms after 24 hours and cleared by a physician, athlete can proceed to Step 4.

Step 4: return to full-contact practice. If there are not return of symptoms after 24 hours, athlete can proceed to Step 5.

Step 5: Return to full competition or game play. If the athlete has any future symptoms or concerns, remove from play immediately until evaluated by a physician.

If concussion symptoms return during any step, the athlete should rest for 24 hours. After resting and asymptomatic, start the protocol again with the previous step.

Questions Parents Should Ask

Before playing a contact sport, parents should ask these questions.

Does the school provide academic support, education to their teachers on concussion or offer baseline neurocognitive testing?

As part of the recovery, the school should be an active participant in helping the athlete return to the classroom effectively. This can happen with the use of academic support as well as with education of administrators, nursing staff and teachers. A baseline test is a computerized assessment that measures reaction time, memory and speed of mental processing. If a student is injured, the same test is administered to compare to the baseline in order to monitor the subtle deficits in the way the athlete thinks and processes information.

Is there an athletic trainer on staff?

Ask if there is a certified athletic trainer on staff and if that athletic trainer covers both games and practices. Athletic trainers play a vital role in helping diagnose and manage concussions, getting the athlete back on the field as safe and effectively as possible.

Have the coaches participated in concussion education?

Education is key. What resources do the coaches have, are they teaching players proper techniques to avoid injury, and confirming athletes are wearing equipment appropriately.

What is the concussion protocol?

Who is responsible for recognizing concussions during practice and games, and what is the plan if a player has a concussion.

For the most part, contact sports are relatively safe and the benefit of playing sports is much greater than the potential risk of having a concussion or getting injured. Having the proper equipment, playing fair and asking the right questions will help protect athletes so they can continue playing the sports they love.

Learn more about Concussion Treatment and Sports Medicine at Children’s Mercy.

Learn more about Athletic Training Services at Children’s Mercy.

1. Play multiple sports. Participating in multiple sports throughout the year can develop and fine-tune your child’s athletic skills. A soccer player, for example, could develop speed and quickness by running track. Or, could improve foot speed and coordination by playing tennis. But if your child specializes in a sport, he or she may overuse their body by repeating the same movement patterns. This could possibly result in injury.

2. Warm-up prior to participation. A proper dynamic warm-up is key to getting the body ready for sports participation. Leg muscles need to be fully activated to reduce injury risk. Adolescent athletes need to gradually begin activity to get the blood flowing to the legs. Some examples include: shuffles for 30 seconds, walking knee hugs (5 x each side), skipping for 30 seconds, lateral lunges (5 x each side), squats (6 to 10 times) and inchworms.

3. Rest! When adolescents are tired, their bodies don’t perform the way they should and movement technique often gets sloppy, resulting in injury risk. Adequate sleep, rest days, and alternating hard workouts with easier workouts are all important strategies to reduce your child’s risk of injury and make them a strong, injury-free athlete.

4. Training must strengthen and stretch key muscle groups. Injury reduction is possible if the adolescent has optimal flexibility through the legs, strength of the hips and core and balance, allowing the child to jump and land safely.

Learn more about Sports Medicine and the Injury Prevention Program at Children's Mercy.

When a student athlete gets injured it can turn their world upside down and impact their emotional state. In our society, there’s an expectation that athletes need to be strong and hide emotion. That they need to play through pain, whether physical or mental. These athletes face other stressors too, which include family and college expectation, especially if playing a sport is going to help pay for college.

Add this to the other common teenage growing pains and it can be overwhelming. Injured athletes are not only at risk for depression, but suicidal thoughts, and parents, coaches and teachers need to know the warning signs.

Injury and Isolation

Suicide is the second leading cause of death for young people. We're losing more youth to suicide than cancer. It’s not just a problem on the national level, it’s a problem right here in our own backyard. Both Kansas and Missouri have higher suicide rates than the national average.

Studies show that social isolation increases the likelihood of suicidal thought and self-harm among adolescents. When athletes are sidelined they often become isolated from their peers, and the longer they’re away from normal activities the more isolated their world becomes. They may stop talking and texting with their teammates because they’re no longer part of the everyday moments. They could feel excluded and the entire dynamic changes.

To maintain a connection with their peers, I encourage my patients to go to practice or manage the team even when they’re not playing. Having a routine and participating in daily activities with their teammates will help their overall mental health.

Suicide Warning Signs

So how do you know if someone is having suicidal thoughts? There’s a misperception you can tell just by looking at them. That’s simply not true. There’s not a “look,” but there are risk factors, which include the following:

• Withdrawn or feeling isolated

• Poor grooming

• Appetite/eating changes

• Failing grades

• Discord with friends/parents

• Victim of bullying

• Frequent stomach/head complaints

• Sexual identity issues

• Gender identity issues

• Cutting back on activities

• Reckless behavior

• Substance abuse

• Shutting down

• Genetic predisposition to mental health problems

• Previous suicide attempt

It’s not unusual for teenagers to display a couple of these behaviors from time-to-time, but you need to be concerned if they have several of these risk factors at once.

What to Do

Teenagers often don’t want to talk to their parents when there’s a problem and instead may turn to a coach, teacher or another trusted adult for help. If someone confides in you, first make it clear you’re not in a hurry and thank them for sharing.

The first step in suicide prevention is identifying if the person needs help, and the severity and immediacy of that risk. You can do that by asking three questions.

1. Have you wished you weren’t alive anymore?

2. Have you had thoughts about killing yourself?

3. Have you ever done anything to try to kill yourself?

If they share specific thoughts, plans or actions you need to take action right away. Some teenagers may have vague thoughts about giving up from time-to-time, and they may not have any plans to harm themselves. Even so, it’s important to address this concern because it could progress to something more serious. If you talk to someone with a specific plan for suicide, especially if they have access to whatever is necessary to carry out the attempt, this is an emergency.

Always encourage that person to seek help and let them know you’ll need to tell their parents. The parents have a right to know and you should never keep thoughts of suicide confidential.

If your child is at risk for suicide, get them into counseling or take them to the emergency room if there’s a more immediate concern. Make sure make sure weapons are out-of-sight and locked up. Assure that your child doesn’t have access to prescriptions and over-the-counter medications such as Tylenol, Ibuprofen and Benadryl, as these medications can be just as dangerous as prescription medications.

Adolescence is a time of tremendous change, and impulsive decisions can have serious consequences. We need to remember that it takes a strong person to acknowledge that they need help, and we need our athletes to know it’s important to accept help when offered. The vast majority of people who face suicidal thoughts recover. We need to expand our focus, not only on how to identify those at risk, but on how recovery is possible. Many amazing athletes at one time faced tremendous struggles, and yet they got help and went on to thrive. We need our patients and families to know that recovery from mental health conditions is possible.

Note: If your child or someone you know is exhibiting signs of depression or suicide, if they are struggling with difficult thoughts and feelings, there is help available. Children’s Mercy social workers are available to connect you with services in your area. Need to talk to someone? Call (800) 273-TALK (8255). The Lifeline is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week – and is free and confidential. 
 

Learn more about identifying suicide risks in teenagers.

Learn more about the Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale.

The amount of energy an athlete requires depends on many factors including:

• age
• gender
• sport
• level of intensity
• duration of activity
• training level
• environment

What to eat on game day

Morning Events

A good pre-game meal is especially important for morning events.

An ideal meal includes foods that:

• are low-fat
• are low-fiber
• are carbohydrate-rich
• have a moderate amount of protein

Some examples include pasta, brown rice and bananas. This is not a time to try new foods. It's also important to drink enough liquids to maintain hydration.

Afternoon Events

Often athletes have a practice or play later in the day and need a snack before the activity. Eating a snack one hour before play can prevent the athlete from feeling hungry. Make sure to drink some water with the snack.

Some recommended snacks include:

• a handful of pretzels
• dry cereal
• a granola bar

Carbohydrates

For sporting events that last one hour or less, sports drinks can provide fluid and carbohydrates.

For longer events, it is even more important to get sufficient carbohydrates. Margaret E. Gibson, MD|Sports Medicine recommends consuming some carbohydrates every 15 to 20 minutes throughout the activity. Five to 10 ounces of a sports drink may be sufficient, however, some athletes prefer a carbohydrate snack or sports gel with water.

Once the event is over, it is still important to eat right and refuel the body for future events. A good goal is to eat 50 to 150 grams of carbohydrates within 15 minutes and again two hours after the event. The body recovers faster if you provide it with the right nutrients.

Examples of good foods high in carbohydrates include:

• pretzels
• crackers
• cereal
• trail mix
• sports bars
• granola bars
• fruit 

After Events

For events lasting longer than 1-2 hours and athletes who are participating in competitive, vigorous exercise, a recovery drink may be needed. A good recovery drink that has an excellent ratio of fats and sugars as well as re-hydrates athletes is chocolate milk. Having a glass of chocolate milk within 30 minutes of activity is a good choice for athletes if it's available. Get more hydration tips here.

Have a Plan

Whether athletes have a couple of games on the weekend or an all-day tournament, it is important to plan your meals, snacks and hydration to ensure athletes are meeting their nutritional needs to fuel their bodies. Especially if teams are traveling out of town, it is important to stock up on appropriate food choices, sports drinks and chocolate milk to take on the trip. With proper planning, athletes can be prepared to perform well with optimal nutrition and hydration.

Learn more about the Sports Medicine Center at Children's Mercy.

A ribbon cutting to celebrate the official opening of the Sports Medicine Center at Village West was held Wednesday, May 17.

Dignitaries attending the event included Debbie Sosland-Edelman, Children’s Mercy Board Chair; Kansas Gov. Jeff Colyer, MD; David Alvey, Mayor of Kansas City, Kansas; and Mark Abbott, Deputy Commissioner and President of Major League Soccer; along with representatives of Sporting KC ownership, U.S. Soccer, CM Board of Directors and CM executives.

In his remarks at the event, Kevin Latz, MD, Chief-Sports Medicine Center at Children’s Mercy, said Children's Mercy is partnering with Sporting KC and U.S. Soccer to bring a first-of-its-kind collaboration between a professional sports team, a national sports federation and a sports medicine provider.

In 2016, Children's Mercy and Sporting Kansas City began a ground-breaking, long-term partnership with three primary goals:

• Improve access to pediatric-trained sports medicine
• Strengthen the community
• Protect youth athletes and educate parents and coaches

This is the only facility of its kind–where student athletes will train and rehab in the same gym as a professional team. It will extend Children's Mercy reach into Wyandotte County community, although this is a resource for the entire region. The partnership also will allow Children's Mercy to optimize education programs on topics such as sports nutrition, concussion and mental health.

The facility’s features include:

• Student athletes can rehabilitate - or work to prevent injuries - in their sport-specific environment. Room to run, cut, jump, throw a football or baseball, shoot or swing a bat.
• The two hydrotherapy pools enable athletes to perform multiple dynamic movements on an underwater treadmill with cameras whose data tracks progress and leads to further therapy decisions.
• It is the first facility in America to own the new AlterG Via400X. This machine records comprehensive data about an athlete’s performance and syncs with medical charts so doctors and parents can stay informed on a patient’s progress. And, it uses NASA-developed technology to unweight patients, which reduces impact while walking or running during rehab.
• The Human Performance Lab inside the gym is one of only a handful in the country, and it is dual-purposed: 1) For the student athlete, it allows us to study in a scientific manner both the student athlete’s gait and movement patterns. By studying student athletes’ movements in great detail, we can make safer surgical and return-to-play decisions. 2) This lab also will benefit children with traditional orthopedic problems like cerebral palsy and spina bifida.

Learn more about the Sports Medicine Center at Children's Mercy.

Brett McQueen, MS, LAT, ATC, Athletic Trainer

Injuries to the ankle are among the most frequently occurring injuries that face athletes in nearly every sport. Ankle injuries can occur during landing on one foot such as running, jumping or even walking. Though ankle injuries can occur outside of sport, injuries happen most often when playing football, basketball, volleyball, tennis and soccer.

Among all ankle injuries, those to the lateral aspect, or outside of the foot/ankle, seem to be the most common. With a lateral ankle injury, pain and swelling will likely develop quickly. Compression wraps similar to an ACE bandage, as well as elevating the ankle above the heart are typically the most effective ways to reduce pain and swelling. In addition, ice can be applied to help manage the pain, but no longer than 15 to 20 minutes at a time. Early range-of-motion exercises after injury can help decrease down time experienced by athletes.

Over the years, many practices such as ankle taping and bracing have made claims to help prevent ankle injuries from occurring. Many of these claims have been found in recent research to be more exaggerated than we once presumed.

The National Athletic Trainers Association recommends ankle taping or bracing only be performed when it is deemed appropriate by a sports medicine professional after an ankle injury occurs. A quality injury prevention program that includes flexibility, mobility, strength, balance and agility training has been shown to be the most effective means of reducing ankle injury rates.

Sports medicine professionals like physicians, athletic trainers or physical therapists can help make the appropriate recommendation for bracing or injury prevention programs based on individual needs. Moreover, it is important to the overall health and well-being of athletes and active individuals to undergo a comprehensive rehabilitation program after ankle injury to reduce the risk of further injury and recurrence of ankle problems.

Learn more about Sports Medicine at Children's Mercy.

“I probably started playing baseball when I was about 3 years old,” says the right-handed pitcher.

Now playing “Class A” ball with the Mets organization, Matt’s road to the big leagues is paved with injuries, surgeries and countless hours spent in physical therapy, many of them right here with the Sports Medicine Center at Children’s Mercy.

“My injuries started when I was about 14 years old and living in Utah,” Matt said. There, he underwent a pair of arm surgeries after sustaining an injury to his growth plate.

A few years later, he relocated to the Kansas City area his senior year, playing for Olathe Northwest. Following high school, he pitched two seasons at Johnson County Community College. But his sophomore year, his shoulder began bothering him.

Fortunately, Matt had a good friend on the team who suggested he see Jason Yoder, DPT, Sports Physical Therapy Manager, Sports Medicine Center at Children’s Mercy.

“My best buddy recommended I go see Jason because of his expertise working with baseball players,” Matt said. “I did, and he helped me work through my shoulder issues and get back on the field.”

Though Matt was now in his early 20s, he had no reservations about returning to Jason when he injured his lower back while diving for first base during his second season with the Mets.

“I worked with Jason the whole off season,” Matt said. “He helped me rehabilitate my back and hip.”

Not long after Matt returned to the mound, he was sidelined once again—this time by an olecranon fracture that required a screw be inserted in his elbow. The Mets medical team also performed an ulnar nerve transposition on his pitching arm at the same time.

“I requested to be sent home so I could work with Jason,” Matt said. “I knew he could help me. I trust him and I always feel like he understands what my body is capable of.”

Jason also teamed up with the Mets organization during Matt’s rehabilitation. “It’s been good to collaborate with the Mets medical staff to help Matt get back to the game he loves,” Jason said.

“Recovering from the elbow surgery and ulnar nerve transfer was a slow process,” Jason added. “It was critical that Matt spend the time rehabilitating his throwing arm if he was going to continue to play.”

After a comprehensive rehabilitation program with Jason, Matt started his 2017 season in peak physical condition.

“Honestly, this is the best my body has ever felt. I feel like everything is starting to come together, in large part thanks to the work I have done with Jason,” Matt said.

And the statistics show it. Through the end of August, Matt had struck out 80 batters in 55 2/3 innings with a 1.46 ERA. He’s becoming known for his fastball, and is looking forward to staying healthy and working on building his strength in the off season.

“I’ve incorporated many of the therapy techniques Jason has taught me over the years into my daily workout routine,” he said.

At 24, Matt’s determined to advance to the next level through the Mets organization. “I am grateful to Jason and Children’s Mercy for being here for me over the last four years,” Matt said.

“Without them, I wouldn’t be playing today. They’re helping me chase my dream.”

Learn more about the Sports Medicine Center at Children's Mercy.

What was once an idealistic vision is now a brilliant reality.

When Sporting Kansas City and Children’s Mercy forged their multifaceted partnership in 2015, a shared objective rose to the forefront. Essential to both organizations was providing significant benefits to children across the Kansas City community and throughout the region.

Less than three years later, this defining characteristic has helped pave the way for a new, world-class athletic facility in Kansas City, Kansas.

Feb. 6 marked the official opening of a state-of-the-art venue located a mile from Children’s Mercy Park and Wyandotte Sporting Fields. The $75-million facility, formerly the National Training and Coaching Development Center, is a first-of-its-kind collaboration between a professional sports team, a national sports federation and a sports medicine provider. In addition to being the training home of Sporting Kansas City and the site of U.S. Soccer’s National Development Center, it is also home to Children’s Mercy Sports Medicine Center at Village West.

It should come as no surprise, then, that Children’s Mercy casts such an excited and anticipatory eye into the future as a new era of sports medicine and rehabilitation begins in Kansas City. More than a quarter of the sprawling space — 27,000 out of 80,000 square feet, to be exact — makes up the Children’s Mercy Sports Medicine Center.

Read the full article via Sporting KC. 

Learn about the services offered through the Sports Medicine Center at Children's Mercy. 

So when he was standing on the mound as a freshman pitching for Blue Valley West, it was almost like a dream come true. Then he felt a pop in his right elbow.

“I had had some pain in the bottom of my elbow,” Chris said, “but it had started to go away. I told the coach I could pitch, and he put me in the game.”

After his second pitch, his elbow completely gave out, and just minutes later, Chris left the field.

“I was in excruciating pain. I walked off the mound,” he said. “My first thought was that I would never play baseball again.”

Chris’ mother, Maria Nordstrom, said her son’s arm was just dangling at his side. “I had never seen Chris in so much pain,” she said. “We knew there was something seriously wrong.”

Chris’ parents took him to Children’s Mercy Hospital Kansas to have the injury evaluated and he was referred to Donna Pacicca, MD, an orthopedic surgeon who specializes in caring for student athletes like Chris.

She diagnosed Chris with a growth plate injury involving an avulsion fracture and a partial tear of his ulnar collateral ligament, a common injury for throwers because it is an active area of growth in the upper arm bone.

“Dr. Pacicca did a wonderful job of describing the injury and surgery to us,” Maria said. “She was very direct and strict in her instructions to Chris.”

Chris spent the week prior to surgery in a hard cast to immobilize the injury and reduce his pain. During the outpatient procedure, Dr. Pacicca reattached the ligament and repaired the fractured elbow with a screw.

“The first thing Dr. Pacicca said to us when we saw her after surgery was, ‘Chris will throw again,’” Maria said. “That was very reassuring.”

Following surgery, Chris wore a hinged elbow brace, which was gradually adjusted to allow full extension of his arm.

A few weeks after surgery, he started physical therapy at the Sports Medicine Center at Children’s Mercy Blue Valley with Jason Yoder, DPT, Sports Physical Therapy Manager.

“Growth plate injuries are unique in that they occur in our developing and maturing middle and high school athletes,” Jason explained. “If not managed appropriately, they can create long-term issues related to the development of the bone, and ultimately, function of the affected body region.”

“Jason worked with me to help correct the bad body mechanics that had contributed to my injury in the first place,” Chris said. “I had to completely re-learn how to throw a baseball.”

“Chris is a middle infielder primarily and had a very long arm pattern that was elbow-dominant,” Jason explained. “That was going to set him up for re-injury if not addressed.

“We not only completed formal rehabilitation to focus on strength, range-of-motion and overall function of his elbow, but also spent time on his entire upper quarter, core and lower extremity strengthening related to throwing mechanics, as well as specific drills to ensure long-term arm health.”

After months of faithfully following his rehabilitation plan, Chris was able to return to the baseball field by the spring of his sophomore year.

Maria said she was impressed by the collaboration and communication between Chris’ surgeon and physical therapist.

“Jason really kept Dr. Pacicca informed of Chris’ progress, and they communicated well with us, always including Chris in any discussions,” she said.

“Thanks to our expertise, we were able to diagnose and care for Chris as a developing athlete,” Jason said. “But he did his part too. He was a very hard worker who complied with post-op restrictions, timeline to throwing and recommendations for return-to-play.”

As Chris prepares for his final season playing competitive high school baseball, he’s confident he’ll have a great season this spring.

“If there was anything I could tell someone else who is going through an injury like this, it’s that it’s not life-changing,” Chris said. “Thanks to Children’s Mercy, my arm is actually better than ever!”

Maria agreed and added, “Dr. Pacicca and Jason were passionate about getting Chris back to the game he loves. That’s the Mercy way!”

Learn more about the Sports Medicine Center at Children's Mercy.

Sporting KC players and staff got their first look at their brand new $75 million home, which is not only a pinnacle for U.S. Soccer, but it's also one of the best facilities in the world.

"Somehow I'm still shocked at what we have," Sporting KC and U.S. Men's National Team midfielder Graham Zusi said. "It is unbelievable -- the attention to detail, the quality of everything here."

Pinnacle will not only be the home for Sporting KC. It will also house the U.S. Men's National Team as well as the Children's Mercy Sports Medicine Center team.

Jason Yoder with the Sports Medicine Center said patients will be able to rehab with state-of-the-art equipment alongside some of their idols.

"I think the ability to come in and interact with Sporting KC medical staff and then the ability to have the players in the same facility is just -- there's really no way to measure what that means at multiple levels for the patient as well as on the other side for the Sporting players to be that role model and mentor," he said.

Watch Fox 4's video and learn more about the Sports Medicine Center at Children's Mercy.

Sporting Kansas City coach Peter Vermes directed a group of 35 people down a passageway Monday, serving as the unofficial tour guide for a $75 million structure. On his left, he pointed toward a cryotherapy room, designed to accelerate muscle recovery. On his right, there was a hypobaric chamber, a room with adjustable altitude. After a step backward, he explained the benefits of another space with motion analysis.

And on it went.

“You see the blueprints and the renderings and you have a vision, but seeing it and walking in here, it’s still hard to believe,” he said. “I’m still amazed every time I walk in here.”

The Center was officially unveiled to media members on Monday. It will be referred to as Pinnacle.

Pinnacle, funded primarily through Kansas sales tax revenue (STAR) bonds, will serve as the new full-time training home for Sporting KC, which previously occupied Swope Soccer Village. Located on the southeast corner of 98th Street and Parallel Parkway, it will house three tenants. U.S. Soccer has moved its coaching and refereeing training programs to the 50-acre site. And a new Children’s Mercy Sports Medicine Center occupies a branch of the lower floor, with a planned completion in April.

Read the full article via the Kansas City Star.

Learn more about the Sports Medicine Center at Children's Mercy.