Sports Medicine
When it comes to kids and sports, no one wants to be sidelined by an injury. Whether your child plays just for fun in the backyard or on a competitive team, we take athletic injuries seriously.
Our team of highly skilled sports medicine specialists understands how to treat pediatric sports injuries. Our advanced knowledge of children's bodies and how they develop allows us to customize treatment to each young athlete.
Many pediatric sports injuries are directly related to growth patterns and bone and muscle development. We consider these factors when coming up with the best treatment options. Whenever possible, we use conservative, noninvasive therapies. Our goal is to have your child back in the game as quickly - and safely - as possible.
Our pediatric sports medicine services
To help your child heal and return to doing the athletic activities they love, we offer a variety of services and treatments, including:
- Same-day appointments for injury evaluation and treatment
- Diagnostic imaging, including X-ray and MRI at some locations
- Casting and splitting for fractures
- Nutritional counseling by a registered dietitian to help young athletes nourish their active, growing bodies, prevent injuries, improve performance and enhance recovery
- Sports physical therapy to regain strength, correct muscle imbalances and help prevent future injuries
- Custom orthotics to treat conditions such as plantar fasciitis
- Impact testing for concussions to evaluate and track recovery
- Dedicated athletic trainers who can assist with injury evaluations and treatment, return-to-play guidance and more
- The Walsh Ranch location has The John and Tracy Sellers Sports Complex that includes a 30-yard football field, quarter-mile track, pitching mound and agility training area. The site also hosts adaptive training for kids and teens with different abilities, sports camps and home-school physical education programs.
Conditions we treat
Our sports medicine experts provide care for a wide range of athletic injuries and conditions, including:
- Concussions
- Growth plate injuries
- Heel pain
- Knee pain
- Little League shoulder
- Little League elbow
- Osgood-Schlatter disease
- Rotator cuff injury
- Shoulder dislocation
- Sprains
- Tendonitis
Get to know our sports medicine team
As pediatric specialists, we understand that children and teenagers need specialized care. Their bones, muscles, ligaments and tendons are still growing, and their response to pain and injury is very different than an adult's.
For these reasons, their treatment must also be different. Our team of experts works together to help each athlete along their path to recovery.
Get to know the team
Meet our athletic trainers and registered dietitian!
Aaren Stratton ATC, LAT, CES
Aaren started working with Cook Children's in 2023 as an Athletic Trainer in the Orthopedics and Sports Medicine department. She received her Bachelor of Science Athletic Training degree from University of Texas Arlington in 2011. Prior to coming to Cook Children’s, Aaren worked as a secondary school athletic trainer at Mansfield Lake Ridge High School for ten years.
Aaren has been a member of the National Athletic Training Association since 2008. She is a Corrective Exercise Specialist as well as an ImPACT Trained Athletic Trainer.
Aaren lives in Mansfield, Texas with her husband and their children. In her free time, she enjoys kickboxing, watching sports and spending time with her family.
Carolyn Snow MS, LAT, ATC, OTC
Carolyn started working with Cook Children's in 2022 as an athletic trainer in the Orthopedics and Sports Medicine department. She received her Bachelor of Science Athletic Training degree from Texas Christian University in 2010. She went on to receive her Master's degree from the University of North Texas in 2012 in Kinesiology where she was also the athletic trainer for their volleyball team. Prior to coming to Cook Children's, Carolyn has worked in orthopedic clinics with all age groups where she would assist in clinic and surgery.
Carolyn has been a member of the National Athletic Training Association since 2006. She is a Certified Orthopaedic Technologist as well as an ImPACT Trained Athletic Trainer. Carolyn has a passion for helping her community, especially keeping youth in the activities they love.
Carolyn lives in Weatherford, Texas with her husband and their children. In her free time, she enjoys cooking, watching sports and spending time with her family.
Taylor Herren, MS, LAT, ATC
Taylor started working as a clinic-based athletic trainer with Cook Children’s in 2023 in the Orthopedics and Sports Medicine department. Born and raised in Kansas, she attended undergraduate school at the University of Kansas where she earned her bachelor’s degree in athletic training in 2017. From there, she made the move to Texas to go to graduate school at Baylor University. She graduated with her master’s degree in Exercise Physiology in 2019. Taylor enjoyed her time in Texas so much she wanted to stay after she graduated and pursue her athletic training career here. Prior to coming to Cook Children's, Taylor has worked in the school setting as an athletic trainer at both the high school and middle school level. She has also provided coverage for many club and recreational sporting events around the DFW area.
Taylor now lives in Fort Worth, Texas with her husband, baby and dog. In her free time, she likes reading, getting outdoors and spending time with her family. She grew up in a big sports family and working in the sports medicine field has allowed her to combine two things she really cares about; athletics and helping others. Taylor really enjoys working with children and helping them get back to doing the activities they love.
Frankie Kindy, MS, RD, LD
Frankie started working with Cook Children's in 2023 as a Registered Dietitian in the Orthopedics and Sports Medicine department. She received her Bachelor of Science in Food and Nutrition, Master of Science in Human Nutrition, and completed her dietetic internship at the University of Alabama (Roll Tide!). Prior to coming to Cook Children’s, Frankie worked as a Registered Dietitian and Personal Trainer at a commercial gym, providing fitness and nutrition guidance for teens and adults in all walks of life. She is currently studying to become a board-certified specialist in sports dietetics.
Frankie grew up participating in sports and loves teaching young athletes how to fuel their bodies to perform at their best and reduce their risk of injury. In addition, she is very passionate about promoting a good relationship with food that lasts a lifetime. Food is fuel and fun! In her free time, Frankie enjoys exercising, reading, eating yummy food, and spending time with her husband and two cats.
We're here to help.
If you'd like to schedule an appointment, refer a patient or speak with us, please call our main office at 682-885-4405. You can also reach out to one of our clinic locations.