Youth Athlete Physical Therapy in Fort Collins
Get your athlete back to their sport stronger, faster, and more resilient than before. One-on-one sessions. Real performance testing. A plan that goes beyond “just rest.”
Your Kid Is Hurting.
You Want Answers.
Your son is limping off the field again. Your daughter says her knee “always hurts” after practice. The coach says to push through it. The pediatrician says take six weeks off. And you’re stuck in the middle wondering if this is something serious — or if you’re overreacting.
You’re not overreacting.
Most youth sports injuries don’t just “go away.” They get managed poorly. Kids get benched for too long, or they play through pain that quietly gets worse. Either way, they lose confidence, lose playing time, and sometimes lose their love for the sport altogether.
That’s not how this has to go.
This Isn’t Your Typical PT Clinic
At Up and Running, we don’t hand your kid a sheet of exercises and send them on their way. Every youth athlete gets 60 minutes of one-on-one time with a physical therapist who understands their sport, their body, and their goals.
Here’s what that actually looks like:
Full-body performance testing. We measure strength, power, mobility, and movement quality — not just the painful area. This gives us (and you) a clear picture of where your athlete is right now and where they need to be.
Sport-specific rehab. A baseball pitcher’s shoulder program looks nothing like a soccer player’s knee program. We build plans around the demands of their sport, their position, and their season.
Running analysis. For track, cross country, and any sport that involves running, we use video-based gait analysis to find mechanical issues that cause recurring injuries.
Return-to-sport testing. Before your athlete gets cleared, they pass objective, measurable tests — not a “does it still hurt?” conversation. We test strength, agility, power, and confidence.
Strength programming that actually builds athletes. Not 3 sets of 10 clamshells. We write real strength programs that address the root cause of injury and build long-term durability.
Coach and parent communication. We keep everyone on the same page. You’ll know the plan, the timeline, and exactly what “ready to play” means.
We Don’t Stop at Pain-Free
Most clinics discharge your kid the moment the pain is gone. We think that’s the halfway point.
Pain-free doesn’t mean ready. It doesn’t mean strong. And it definitely doesn’t mean they won’t get hurt again next month.
Our goal is to send your athlete back to their sport educated, body-aware, and genuinely prepared for the demands ahead. That means they understand the difference between acceptable soreness and a red flag. They know how to warm up, how to recover, and what it actually takes to get to the next level.
Working hard is not enough. The athletes who make it to the next level aren’t just the ones who grind the hardest. They’re the ones who understand their body’s strengths and weaknesses, have the right support systems, and train smarter — not just harder.
That’s what we build here.
We See These Every Week
Youth athletes are not small adults. Their bodies are still growing — which means their injuries need a different approach. Here are the conditions we treat most often in our Fort Collins clinic:
That painful bump below the kneecap that flares up during sports? It’s caused by the quadriceps tendon pulling on a growing bone. Most parents hear “they’ll grow out of it” and assume there’s nothing to do. That’s not true. There are movement patterns that need to be corrected now to protect long-term knee health. We address the root cause with targeted loading and movement retraining — not just rest.
Extremely common in basketball, volleyball, and track athletes who sprint and jump. Tendons need progressive loading to adapt. Without it, your athlete ends up in a cycle of rest, return, re-injury. Rest alone does not fix this. We use structured loading protocols to build a tendon that can handle their sport.
The most common injury across nearly every youth sport. A sprained ankle often feels better in a week or two — but without proper rehab, it’s five times more likely to happen again. We rebuild ankle strength, stability, and proprioception so your athlete doesn’t become a repeat sprainer.
Little League shoulder, Little League elbow, Sever’s disease — these are all growth plate-related issues. They’re unique to young athletes because the growth plates haven’t fused yet. Ignoring them or “pushing through” can cause real long-term damage. We manage these carefully with age-appropriate rehab and clear return-to-play criteria.
ACL tears are on the rise in youth sports, especially among female athletes. Whether your child needs surgery or not, the rehab process is long and needs to be done right. We use criterion-based progressions and objective return-to-sport testing to make sure they’re truly ready — not just cleared on a calendar.
Often caused by doing too much, too fast — with no strength program, poor nutrition, and multiple high-intensity workouts stacked on top of each other. We help athletes recover safely and then build a plan that prevents the next one.
Common in soccer players, gymnasts, and female runners. These are rarely isolated problems — they’re usually connected to movement patterns, training load, and strength deficits elsewhere in the body. We treat the whole athlete, not just the spot that hurts.
How It Works
From the first phone call to the final clearance test, you’ll know exactly what’s happening and why.
Step 1: Discovery Call. You’ll talk to a real person on our team (not a call center). We’ll learn about your athlete, their injury, their sport, and their goals. You’ll learn about how we work and whether we’re the right fit. No pressure, no obligation.
Step 2: Comprehensive Evaluation. Your athlete gets a full 60-minute evaluation with one of our physical therapists. We assess strength, mobility, movement patterns, and sport-specific demands. You’ll leave with a clear diagnosis, a timeline, and a plan.
Step 3: Treatment and Training. Every session is 60 minutes, one-on-one. We combine hands-on treatment with progressive strength training, sport-specific drills, and education. Your athlete doesn’t just get fixed — they learn how their body works.
Step 4: Performance Testing and Return-to-Sport. Before they’re cleared, they prove it. We run objective performance tests to make sure they’re strong enough, fast enough, and confident enough to compete safely.
Step 5: Long-Term Game Plan. At discharge, your athlete gets a maintenance strength program and the knowledge to manage their body going forward. Our door is always open if they need us again.
WHAT PARENTS AND ATHLETES ARE SAYING
Shane Powell, father of Christian Powell (high school basketball)
“We really enjoyed the whole team and working directly with Conner. The team did a great job together getting our son back into sports right away with a great game plan. He’s back to doing what he loves and we are grateful for their work and highly recommend.”
Hallie Prete, high school track athlete“I came to Up and Running a few months ago for a hamstring strain and I’ve been feeling great! If you’re injured at all they’re really great and will help you out.”
Physical Therapists Who’ve Been in Your Athlete’s Shoes
Every PT at Up and Running is a former competitive athlete. We’ve been through injuries, rehab, and comebacks ourselves. That experience changes how we treat your kid.
Dr. AJ
AJ Cohen is the founder of Up and Running Physical Therapy, a performance-driven clinic built for runners, lifters, climbers, and active adults who refuse to settle. Before he was a physical therapist, AJ was an athlete at the highest levels. He was a 3-time New York State Champion gymnast, competed as a Division I collegiate wrestler, and qualified nationally in Olympic weightlifting, holding a bodyweight-to-strength ratio record at Sacred Heart University. He understands high performance because he’s lived it.
Dr. Conner
16 years of competitive baseball through the collegiate level. 3 years of baseball coaching. 7 years of competitive powerlifting and 5 years of powerlifting coaching. USAPL Club Coach certified. Conner understands the grind of year-round competitive sports and what it takes to keep a young athlete’s body healthy through it.
Dr. Chandler
Chandler earned his Bachelor of Science degrees in Sports Medicine and Psychology
from Colorado State University in 2018, and later completed his Doctorate of Physical
Therapy at the University of Central Florida. Originally from Colorado, Chandler and his wife always knew they wanted to return to Fort Collins to start their careers and put down roots.
Dr. Matt
Multi-sport varsity athlete (football, baseball) who was recruited to the Ivy League before career-ending injuries his senior year. Coached high school football and baseball. Interned at Hospital for Special Surgery — the #1 sports orthopedic hospital in the country — working alongside NFL, NBA, MLB, and NHL athletes. Doctoral concentration in vestibular rehab with a focus on concussion and TBI. Matt brings a rare perspective that spans the full lifespan of an athlete, from youth development to post-career health.
Dr. Joey
Endurance sports specialist with deep experience in running analysis and lower extremity biomechanics. Joey works closely with track, cross country, and multi-sport youth athletes to address the mechanical and training issues that cause overuse injuries.
Athletes From Every Sport in Northern Colorado
We work with youth athletes from Fort Collins, Timnath, Windsor, Loveland, and Wellington. Our team treats athletes from Fossil Ridge, Fort Collins High, Poudre, Rocky Mountain, Timnath, Severance, and Berthoud — along with club and travel teams across the region.
Sports we see most often: baseball, basketball, soccer, volleyball, wrestling, track and cross country, gymnastics, lacrosse, football, swimming, and cheer. If your athlete plays it, we can help.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Not usually. Most youth sports injuries can be accurately diagnosed with a thorough physical evaluation. If imaging is needed, we’ll tell you — and we’ll tell you exactly what kind and why.
No. Osgood-Schlatter is a self-limiting condition that resolves as the growth plates close. But “waiting it out” without addressing the underlying movement issues can lead to chronic knee problems. Treatment now protects their knees long-term.
It depends on the injury, but we’ll give you a clear timeline at the first visit. Our return-to-sport decisions are based on objective testing, not guesswork. Your athlete gets cleared when they’re actually ready — not just when the calendar says so.
Often, yes — with modifications. Complete rest is rarely the best answer. We’ll tell you exactly what activities are safe, what to modify, and what to avoid. The goal is to keep them active and progressing whenever possible.
Rest removes the pain, but it doesn’t fix the problem. Without identifying and correcting the root cause — whether it’s a strength deficit, a movement pattern, or a training load issue — the injury is likely to come back.
No. We also work with healthy athletes who want to improve performance, prevent injuries, or prepare for a season, tryouts, or a combine. Think of it as a performance tune-up.
Most referrals send kids to high-volume clinics where they share a therapist with two or three other patients at the same time. Here, your athlete gets 60 minutes of undivided, one-on-one attention with the same PT every visit.
We specialize in adolescent athletes ages 12–18. This includes middle school, high school, and club-level competitors.
No. In Colorado, you can see a physical therapist without a doctor’s referral. You can book directly with us.
Absolutely. With your permission, we’ll coordinate with coaches, athletic trainers, and other providers to make sure everyone is on the same page about your athlete’s readiness.
We get it. That fear is real. From day one, we use the early phases of rehab as a chance to train other weaknesses they don’t normally have time for. We also use visualization, reframing, and education to help them see this as a training cycle — not a setback.
Yes. We offer performance screens, movement assessments, and strength programming designed to reduce injury risk before a problem starts. This is especially valuable heading into a new season or tryout period.
Your Athlete Deserves Better Than “Wait and See”
Whether they’re dealing with an injury right now or you want to get ahead of one, we’re here to help. Talk to our team and find out what’s possible.
