in the pediatric population. these therapists are specialized in the diagnosis, treatment, and management of infants, children, and adolescents with a variety of congenital, developmental, neuromuscular, skeletal, or acquired disorders/diseases. treatments focus mainly on improving gross and fine motor skills, balance and coordination, strength and endurance as well as cognitive and sensory processing/integration. sports physical therapists are closely involved in the care and wellbeing of athletes including recreational, semi-professional (paid), and professional (full-time employment) participants. this area of practice encompasses athletic injury management under 5 main categories: acute care – assessment and diagnosis of an initial injury; treatment – application of specialist advice and techniques to encourage healing; rehabilitation – progressive management for full return to sport; prevention – identification and address of deficiencies known to directly result in, or act as precursors to injury, such as movement assessment education – sharing of specialist knowledge to individual athletes, teams, or clubs to assist in prevention or management of injury physical therapists who work for professional sports teams often have a specialized sports certification issued through their national registering organization. most physical therapists who practice in a sporting environment are also active in collaborative sports medicine programs too (