Orthopedics & Sports Medicine at Boston Children's Hospital

07/24/2026

Why The Best Orthopedic Programs Are Breaking Down Silos

An MRI can show a damaged ligament but it can't capture the identity loss, emotional strain, or family disruption that often accompanies a sports injury for a young athlete. In Becker's Spine Review, Dr. Mininder Kocher shares the multidisciplinary vision driving the Sports Medicine Division at Boston Children's Hospital. By bringing together orthopedic surgeons, nonsurgical sports medicine physicians, physical therapists, athletic trainers, and embedded behavioral health specialists, the team works horizontally around the patient to treat the root causes of injury and support complete recovery. Read more:

A torn ACL can remove a teenager from competition in a second. It can also separate them from their friends, disrupt the rhythm of their family and unsettle an identity built around being an athlete. The MRI captures the damaged ligament. It does not show everything else the injury has taken away. T...

06/18/2026

For years, the running community has been told that "lighter is faster." But groundbreaking research from the Boston Marathon completely debunks that age-old myth. As Dr. Kristin Whitney, director of our Injured Runners Clinic, explains in Runner’s World, under-fueling (or low energy availability) actually leads to significantly slower race times and a much higher risk of requiring medical care. Paying attention to early signs like a sudden dip in performance, frequent injuries, or shifts in your mood can help you catch under-fueling before it catches up to you. Read the full Runner's World feature to learn how to properly match your fuel to your mileage:

Calorie restriction or simply not eating enough to support your workouts can not only affect your running, but your overall health.

06/12/2026

REGISTER TODAY for the 2nd Biennial Ruth Solomon Symposium for the Performing Artist Athlete. We're excited to host this at the beautiful Skating Club of Boston in Norwood, MA and showcase our fabulous line-up of speakers for, "Figure Skating Health & Performance: An Interdisciplinary Approach to the Management and Prevention of Injuries in Figure Skaters." All the details: https://on.bchil.org/4xvxYk0

06/09/2026

Recognizing a concussion in children can be tricky, and knowing the right steps to take can feel completely overwhelming for parents and coaches. In this episode on the Boston Children's Answers Parentcast podcast, host Dr. Jennifer Arnold sits down with Dr. Michael O’Brien, director of our Sports Concussion Clinic, to break down exactly what you need to know.

From sports injuries to everyday accidents, Dr. O'Brien shares clear guidance on: signs and symptoms to watch for, when to seek medical care, practical steps to support a safe recovery, and how we help kids safely return to school, sports, and daily life.

Whether your child is an athlete or just active, this episode offers the expert advice every parent needs.

Tune in to watch or listen to the full episode here:

Concussions in children can be tricky to recognize and knowing how to respond can feel overwhelming. In this episode, Dr. Jennifer Arnold talks with Dr. Mich...

06/05/2026

Did you know that ACL injuries among teenage girls have risen significantly in recent years? The physical rehab is grueling, but the emotional impact of being sidelined can be just as difficult. Boston Children's orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Melissa Christino, weighed in for Education Week on how losing the ability to play can deeply affect a young athlete's social and psychological well-being during a critical time in their identity formation. To help them make a full comeback, we have to support the whole athlete which equally includes mind and body. Read more about why schools, coaches, and parents need to look beyond the physical rehab:

Teenage girls are more prone to ACL tears, and the injuries can upend their mental health and academic achievement.

06/01/2026

When a young athlete is sidelined, the mental challenge is often just as tough as the physical rehab. Adolescents face injury rates nearly triple those of adults , and a sports injury can temporarily strip them of their daily structure, identity, and self-confidence.

Emily Pluhar, director of our sports medicine behavioral health team, recently shared her insight on this "vicious cycle" with The Athletic: "Stress, anxiety and low mood can influence sleep, focus, decision making and physical healing. Elevated psychological distress has also been linked to injury and increased reinjury risk in young athletes."

To support our youth athletes, it's vital to recognize injury-related anxiety early, support their identity beyond performance, and remember that mental readiness often lags behind physical healing. Read the full article here (might require a subscription):

Because adolescents face injury rates nearly triple those of adults, the mental side of rehab is especially important.

05/27/2026

Thoracic inlet insufficiency (TII) is a newly defined cause of airway and esophageal compression that can impact breathing and swallowing. Join Boston Children’s experts to learn how advanced imaging, 3D modeling, and multidisciplinary surgical care are helping patients find relief.

💙 Cardiac Conversations: Defining and caring for thoracic inlet insufficiency
🗓️ Thursday, May 28 at 4:15 PM ET
🔗 Register at the link below
https://bostonchildrens.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_8RtrtbvnT0S6uSBXZ3Hr9Q #/registration

05/08/2026

Celebrating Nurses Week here in the Orthopedics & Sports Medicine Department! We are grateful for all of the hard work, expertise, and dedication to patient care that our staff shows every single day!

03/27/2026

Adrian always believed he’d play football again despite a serious injury that sidelined him for almost two years. “No matter how hard it got, — and his recovery took almost two years — his attitude was always, ‘I’ve got this. I’m going to return and play again.’” Read more about the rare injury that Adrian sustained and his journey back to his favorite game: https://answers.childrenshospital.org/knee-dislocation-football/

03/12/2026