Sports Performance Academy
Comprehensive Sports Medicine Program
The Sports Performance Academy (SPA) at CHKD is a collaboration of the entire CHKD Sports Medicine team offering specialized programs in injury evaluation and prevention, sport-specific training and rehabilitation, and educational programs for athletes, their families, and coaches in our community.
Keeping Athletes Safe And Performing At Their Peak
The CHKD Sports Medicine team includes physicians, physical therapists, athletic trainers and exercise specialists, specially trained in the needs of young athletes, providing programs designed to decrease the risk of injury and increase fitness and athletic performance. Additional programs provide education in a variety of areas ranging from concussion safety to burnout and injury prevention to the role of mental toughness in sports performance.
All programs are specifically tailored to the needs of the young athlete. Our experienced sports medicine professionals teach functional athletic movements for improving coordination and body control, emphasize correct technique, and focus on the development of flexibility, strength, balance, agility and core stability. Whether your child wants to get stronger, jump higher, run faster, swim longer, throw harder, or just have some fun, we have it all.
Programs Offered
CHKD is committed to providing the safest training available to children and young athletes. We follow established guidelines developed by the American College of Sports Medicine for training of young athletes, and all of our training guidelines have been approved by our physicians.
For our athletes, a well-rounded strength and conditioning program can improve sports performance and reduce the risk of injuries. This program should include appropriate strength training, speed and agility training, and flexibility, balance and coordination exercises.
For children at risk for being overweight, repetitive aerobic exercise can quickly become boring. Adding appropriate strength training and other forms of exercise creates a fun and challenging atmosphere – improving results and increasing a child’s activity level and self-esteem.
Working with a personal trainer is an investment in your child’s health and well-being and can benefit anyone from beginners to top athletes. CHKD exercise specialists provide a wide array of specialized services for children and teens in an environment designed for fun and learning, including:
- Proper technique and form
- Sports-specific training and injury prevention
- Personalized programs and relationship building
- Accountability, motivation, and non-judgmental support
Evaluation Session
Evaluation includes flexibility, body composition, cardiovascular fitness, speed, muscular strength, balance, agility and nutrition education.
Personal Training Sessions
Ask about our current promotions and packages. Discounts available. Meet predetermined goals and earn free sessions.
Group Training (3-5 participants)
All training sessions are 45 minutes.
For more information, pricing, and scheduling for our personal training services please email Julius Delbridge- Fitness Program Supervisor, or call (757) 668-6654.
Personal Training Locations
For young athletes, a well-rounded strength and conditioning program using the Pilates method can improve sports performance and reduce the risk of injury. For the growing child, appropriate training can result in improved flexibility, core control, body awareness, and stability.
At CHKD, we are committed to providing the safest training available. We follow established guidelines developed by the American College of Sports Medicine and the Pilates Method Alliance for the training of children and teens.
Benefits of Pilates
- Improved posture
- Relaxation and stress reduction
- Injury prevention
- Increased strength
- Increased body awareness
- Recovery after injury
Personal Pilates Training: $60 for each hour-long session
Group Mat Training: Contact Ashely deLalla for dates and pricing
About the Instructor
Ashley deLalla is a CHKD sports medicine physical therapist with a special interest in Pilates. She is a Nationally Certified Pilates Teacher with advanced specialized training as a practitioner of Pilates for rehabilitation. Her continuing education focus has been training for adolescents and pathokinesioloy of the lumbar spine. Ashley enjoys integrating the Pilates method in rehabilitation of all athletes.
For more information, please contact:
Ashley deLalla, (757) 668-2727, ashley.delalla@CHKD.org
Autism fitness is designed to improve the overall health and quality of life of children and teens on the autism spectrum through resistance and aerobic exercise. Our two-month session includes once-a-week classes incorporating exercises designed to advance from balance and coordination to compound exercises and sport-specific play.
Program Benefits:
- Increase in social behavior, sensory skills, strength and communication skills
- Decreased maladaptive behavior
- Improvement in academic engagements
Sessions meet once a week for eight weeks on Saturday afternoons at CHKD Health Center at Oakbrooke.
Contact Matthew Palozola at (757) 668-2386 for more information, including price and dates for class.
Video Pitching Analysis
When pitching, the shoulder can rotate as fast as 7,000 degrees per second causing a repeated amount of torque on a young athlete’s elbow. Video pitching analysis allows our sports medicine physical therapist to identify issues with mechanics and develop a plan of recommended exercises or drills to help reduce the errors. In addition to a personal results consultation, pitchers are given a video of their technique and a printout of the analysis to review with their coaches and instructors
During a pitching analysis, one of the CHKD sport medicine physical therapists records high-speed video that breaks down pitching technique from multiple angles at 300 frames per second – capturing elements of the throwing motion unseen by the human eye. The video is then analyzed using the state-of-the-art Dartfish motion analysis software.
- Pitching Analysis Package: $150 (Includes video pitching analysis, results consultation and injury risk assessment)
Throwing Performance Assessment
Identifying risk factors associated with injury can not only decrease injury rates, but also help improve the overhead athletes performance; even increase velocity. Athletes are 3-5 times more likely to be injured due to muscle imbalance, losses in shoulder motion, and deficits in the rotator cuff musculature. The performance assessment objectively assesses for these risk factors, allowing identification of impairments that can lead to inefficiencies in the throwing delivery. Contact our baseball program coordinator now, to get your performance assessment scheduled and your overhead throwing athlete on a better path to success. Team and individual assessments and screenings are available. Contact Lane Wildman for scheduling and pricing.
Injury Risk Screening
Includes evaluation of shoulder and elbow range of motion and strength, flexibility issues, muscle imbalances and strength deficits that can lead to injury; risk assessment and individualized home program. This is a FREE service.
Off-Season Performance and Power Program - baseball-specific fitness training
Eight week program consisting of twice weekly training sessions emphasizing the movements required for baseball performance, lower body rotational and linear power and core utilization for more explosive hitting and throwing.
Tough Cuff Class - Injury Prevention for the Rotator Cuff
The rotator cuff is a group of tendons and muscles in the shoulder, connecting the upper arm to the shoulder blade. The tendons provide stability to the shoulder while the muscles allow the shoulder to rotate in overhead task such as throwing, hitting and swimming. This 8-week shoulder strengthening and stabilization program consists of twice-weekly sessions designed for throwing or overhead athletes. This program addresses the needs of any overhead athlete by targeting the small muscles of the shoulder with high EMG (electrical activity) activation exercises as well as functional tasks that utilize the shoulder muscles in the way they will perform on the field, court or pool.
Iron Arm Package - Injury Prevention and Performance for Baseball Players
This program is designed to improve performance while reducing the risk of shoulder and elbow injuries. Includes:
- Initial shoulder and elbow injury risk screening
- video analysis of pitching mechanics
- 8-week personalized arm care home program
- 8-weeks of individualized baseball-specific personal training (16 sessions)
- Final risk re-assessment at program conclusion including an ongoing home maintenance program.
For more information, pricing, and scheduling for our baseball program services please email Lane Wildman PT, DPT, or call (757) 668-4890.
Young dancers are often plagued by injuries because of the frequent, intense, and repetitive nature of their sport. Unfortunately, many young dancers have been conditioned to ignore early symptoms of injury. This mindset can often worsen injuries that could have been treated easily at the onset. CHKD's Dance Medicine Program will assess dancers, and when necessary, provide treatment to prevent serious injuries.
If a serious injury occurs, our comprehensive team can handle everything from the initial assessment and diagnostic testing to surgery and rehabilitation. Our dance medicine team is led by Dr. Joel Brenner, who has worked with dancers at all career levels, and a team of physical therapists with dance and Pilates experience.
A dance physical therapist is available to visit dance studios on a weekly or bi-monthly basis to identify injuries that need to be evaluated and treated. The CHKD dance medicine team is the official medical provider for several dance institutions, including Governors School for the Arts and Ballet Virginia International.
For an appointment with Dr. Brenner, please call (757) 668-7529 (PLAY). For questions about our program or to request an on-site studio visit, please call us at (757) 668-2727.
Dance Services
Physical Therapy for Dancers
- Requires physician prescription.
- Dance-specific rehabilitation services are provided under the guidance of a sports medicine physical therapist specifically trained in dance medicine.
Injury Prevention: Pointe Readiness - $50 per assessment
- The functional testing of a dancer’s strength, flexibility and stability provides dancers and their instructors a detailed pointe readiness assessment.
- Each assessment Includes a personalized home exercise program to address any deficits found.
- Studios may arrange for these assessments to be done at their location.
Injury Prevention and Nutrition Clinic for Dancers- pricing varies
- Clinics are designed for any dancer, parent, or coach interested in the latest information on injury prevention and nutrition in the field of dance. CHKD sports medicine experts will lead discussions on topics including proper nutrition for adolescent dancers, the latest research on prevention, evaluation and treatment of injuries, and exercise prescriptions to prevent injury.
- Studios may arrange for a private clinic at their location.
For more information about dance services please contact:
Emily Hafer at (757) 668-2394 or email Emily.Hafer@CHKD.org.Running injuries in children and teens are different from those experienced by adults. That’s why it’s important to have your child evaluated by pediatric and adolescent sports medicine physicians and physical therapists trained to treat running injuries.
A program for runners, by runners
Effectively treating running injuries requires specialized expertise. Our physician and physical therapists not only have extra training and experience in biomechanical assessment, evaluation procedures, and treatment techniques specifically for runners, but they are also experienced runners themselves giving them a special understanding of the challenges involved in the sport. In addition, they have years of experience working with thousands of runners of all skill levels.
Most running-related injuries are a result of improper training, overuse, or faulty biomechanics. Our team will evaluate these factors to create a comprehensive rehabilitation program. Research has shown that treatment not specific to running will likely have little impact on running mechanics and may not reduce injuries. Our physical therapists will create a customized, running-specific program for optimal results.
If you are concerned about a possible running injury in your child, call (757) 668-PLAY (7529) for an appointment with Dr. Joel Brenner, who heads our running program.
Running Analysis
Our video running analysis using Dartfish software can help identify even the smallest technique errors that may be contributing to injury, pain or poor performance.
Running Analysis Package: $150
- Video running analysis
- Results consultation
- Personalized running-specific exercise prescription
Running Analysis plus Personal Training package: $250
- Video running analysis
- Results consultation
- Personalized running-specific exercise prescription
- Four one-on-one personal training sessions with a CHKD sports medicine exercise
specialist
Repeat Running Analysis: $50*
* following personal training sessions with CHKD exercise specialist
For more information or to schedule a running analysis, please contact Sara Stites at (757) 668-2733 or email sara.stites@CHKD.org.
Soccer is a popular sport and a great way for children and teens to develop physical fitness and teamwork skills. But, like in many sports, soccer players are at risk of getting hurt.
Care and Prevention for a Wide Range of Injuries
Frequent soccer injuries include ankle sprains, hamstring strains, groin pulls, knee sprains, shin splints, tendonitis, and ACL sprains or tears – an injury that often requires surgery. Concussions are also common, making up about 10 percent of all soccer injuries.
The CHKD Sports Medicine team specializes in the prevention and treatment of these injuries with a focus on helping young athletes achieve peak performance. Our physicians, physical therapists and exercise specialists provide services that include pre-injury screening, injury prevention programs, injury management, soccer-specific rehabilitation and analysis, and sports performance training.
CHKD Sports Medicine is the preferred medical provider for soccer clubs and recreation facilities throughout Hampton Roads, including Virginia Rush Soccer, Chesapeake United, Virginia Beach Field House, Premiere Sports Complex, and many more.
Concerned Your Child May have a Soccer-Related Injury?
If you are concerned your child may have a soccer-related injury, call (757) 668-7529 (PLAY) for an appointment with Dr. Micah Lamb who heads our soccer program. To schedule sports medicine physical therapy services, please call (757) 668-7529 (PLAY).
Soccer Services
For questions about our soccer program or to register for any soccer service, email Sara Stites or call (757) 668-2733.
Education Sessions: Free
Our team is available to provide group and team talks on a variety of sports medicine topics specific to the soccer athlete, family and coach.
Pre-injury Risk Assessment Screening: Free
Our on-field or in-clinic assessments use functional and soccer-specific movement screenings, analysis of jump mechanics, and evaluation of deceleration and cutting techniques to identify weaknesses or errors in mechanics that are known to increase the risk of common soccer injuries.
Movement Analysis with Cutting and Jumping Evaluation: $125
Includes:
- Soccer shot analysis
- Assessment of deceleration, cutting and jumping mechanics
- Results consultation
- Exercise prescription for correction of improper mechanics
Golden Boot Package: $250
Includes:
- Assessment of deceleration, cutting, and jumping mechanics
- Results consultation
- Exercise prescription for correction of improper mechanics
- Four individual, soccer-specific training sessions with a certified exercise specialist
- Personal training and performance enhancement
It has been estimated that a competitive swimmer will take 1.32 million strokes per arm in a year. Proper mechanics of the shoulder help decrease the risk of shoulder injuries in young swimmers and can also improve speed and efficiency. CHKD's swim specialists are experienced in the evaluation, prevention, and treatment of swimming related injuries.
CHKD’s swimming specialists are experienced in the evaluation, treatment, and prevention of swimming-related injuries. Young swimmers suffer injuries due to many factors, including overuse. With overuse, comes fatigue and failure to maintain proper stroke mechanics. Fatigue, weakness, inflexibility, instability, and poor timing can all lead to serious injury, potentially ending a swimmer’s career. Identifying these issues can improve technique and reduce the risk of injury.
If you’re concerned about an existing swimming injury in your child, call (757) 668-7529 (PLAY) for an appointment with Dr. David Smith, who heads our swimming program.
Swim Stroke Analysis
For injury prevention and increased performance, CHKD offers video stroke analysis to young swimmers throughout the region. During this analysis, a sports medicine physical therapist records high-speed video of a swimmer from several angles, using either a SwimPro camera system or GoPro video. The video is then analyzed using state-of-the-art Dartfish motion analysis. This high-tech assessment can help identify even the smallest mechanical errors that may contribute to injury, pain, or poor performance.
After analysis, a plan of recommended exercises or drills is developed to help reduce or correct these errors. In addition to a personal results consultation, each swimmer receives a video of their stroke technique along with a printout of the analysis to review with coaches and instructors.
Swim Stroke Analysis Package: $150
• Video swimming analysis
• Results consultation
• Injury risk assessment
CHKD swim stroke analysis is available at the CHKD Health Center at Loehmann’s Plaza in Virginia Beach and select recreation centers in the Hampton Roads region. For more information or to schedule an appointment contact Missy Fritz at (757) 668-2392 or email to Melissa.Fritz@CHKD.org.
A referral is not needed to schedule an appointment. The cost for the swim stroke analysis is typically not covered by insurance.
Read Our Blog
Our Services
Sports Medicine Physical Therapy
ACL and Knee Injuries Program
Mind and Body Wellness Coaching
Community Investment, Community Involvement
Our team partners with:
- Virginia Beach Public Schools
- Chesapeake Public Schools
- Norfolk Baseball Academy
- The Hampton Roads Lacrosse League
- Virginia Beach Sportsplex
- Girls on the Run
- Governor's School for the Arts
- Ocean Tumblers
- Rush Soccer
- Poquoson Public Schools
- Greenbrier Christian Academy
- Currituck County Schools
- Hampton Parks and Recreation
- Buckroe Beach Sand Soccer Tournament
- Old Dominion Soccer Club
- Tidewater Gymnastics Academy
For information about partnering with the Sports Performance Academy, please contact Chris Bertani, director of sports medicine and orthopedic surgery services, at (757) 668-5345 or send him an email.