It’s hard to believe another school year is starting up with new classes, teachers and extracurriculars. It’s this time of year that we often reflect on the dedication of our educators who work diligently to serve the academic needs of our students every day.

 

However, many others including coaches, athletic trainers and team physicians play a vital role in ensuring the well-being of students as they also embark on their athletic endeavors.

 

Dr. Scott Arthur, sport medicine physician and orthopaedic surgeon at Bone and Joint Institute of Tennessee, is one of many providers who gladly give their time and energy to serve student-athletes. As the current team physician for Brentwood High School and Brentwood Academy, Dr. Arthur is passionate about his profession.

 

“From a young age I knew I wanted to be a surgeon, and I also had a love for sports,” said Dr. Arthur. “Being a team physician has allowed me the ability to interface my two interests, attend games in the community and enjoy what I do.”

 

With a background in sports medicine and personal athletic experience, it was a natural fit. However, the role of a team physician requires much more than being on the sidelines.

 

“In addition to keeping the athletes safe, one of our main priorities is to establish an open line of communication with the coaches, athletic trainers, parents and athletes to build a network of trust,” said Dr. Arthur.

 

Throughout the year, Williamson Health athletic trainers work in tandem with dedicated Bone and Joint Institute physicians and physical therapists to care for the WCS student-athletes. Williamson Health Emergency Medical Services (EMS) are also on the sidelines during football games and other events, ready to provide immediate care in case of injury. 

 

During the fall season, team physicians are typically assisting with football games and practices as well as other seasonal sports including volleyball, cross country and girls’ soccer. Bone and Joint Institute of Tennessee provides sports medicine coverage, free of charge to high schools in Williamson County as well as Grace Christian Academy, Battle Ground Academy, Brentwood Academy, Christ Presbyterian Academy and Lipscomb Academy.

 

“Our team physicians are at every home football game for their respective schools and are on-call for other sporting events like soccer games and volleyball matches,” said Dr. Arthur. “However, most of us can be seen at the majority of school sporting events cheering on the athletes we’ve helped rehabilitate.”

 

These dedicated physicians are also available during the week providing on-campus evaluations, answering questions and attending practices.

 

“Having us readily available helps the kids return from injury and get back on the field as soon as possible,” said Dr. Arthur. “Personally, I try to be on campus two to three times a week outside of games.”

 

Football occupies a lot of the team physicians’ time in the fall due to the increased risk of injury. On game days, the physicians arrive early to interact with the officials and athletic directors, assess players’ conditions and ensure that everyone is briefed on emergency protocol. During the game, the physicians are ready to evaluate a variety of conditions in real-time including concussions, spinal injuries, ACL tears, shoulder dislocations and sprains, said Dr. Arthur. These providers are also equipped to handle rare cardiac incidents should they occur.

 

“Safety is top of mind, but if the athlete is able, we want them to get back out and play,” said Dr. Arthur. “Having us on the sidelines allows us to make that determination almost immediately.”

 

For convenience and further exams, Bone and Joint Institute offers a Saturday morning walk-in clinic available to student-athletes in addition to the group’s four urgent care locations across the county that are open seven days a week. 

 

“The Saturday clinic allows us to get X-rays, be evaluated by a provider and order MRI scans sooner. Sometimes, we even have those results in the same weekend,” said Dr. Arthur. “By expediting the process, we can get our athletes definitive answers as soon as possible and begin a treatment plan.”

 

Dr. Arthur and the other team physicians also place a strong emphasis on injury prevention. By attending practices and scrimmages early in the season, the providers can get a sense of areas of concern.

 

“We coordinate with strength trainers and coaches to integrate techniques into preseason training that will help to decrease the risk of injury,” said Dr. Arthur.

 

From pre-season parent meeting introductions to post-game athlete evaluation, the dedicated team physicians are committed to the athletes they serve and love to see them triumph over adversity.

 

“I do what I do because I love it,” said Dr. Arthur. “And the most rewarding part of being a team physician is being able to watch an athlete who’s been through a long and difficult injury recovery get back to doing what they love.”

 

For more information or to schedule an appointment, visit boneandjointtn.org.