Originally published in the Williamson Herald —

As the summer melts away, back-to-school preparations are already in full swing. From completing summer reading assignments to gathering school supplies and reestablishing routines, your to-do list is likely overflowing. Add to that the wide array of sports and extracurricular activities available, and it’s clear there’s a lot to manage. With so much on your plate, your child’s safety on the field or court should be one less thing to worry about.

Understandably, parents may have some hesitation about their children playing contact sports with the increased risk of injury. However, as a former athlete himself, Dr. Scott Arthur, orthopaedic surgeon and sports medicine physician at Bone and Joint Institute of Tennessee, knows firsthand the peace of mind that quality sports medicine care can provide.

Dr. Arthur currently serves as the team physician for Brentwood High School and Brentwood Academy. As part of a partnership with Williamson County Schools, Bone and Joint Institute and Williamson Health serve as the official sports medicine providers for each public school across the county, as well as some of the private schools in the area. 

Throughout the year, each school has a dedicated Bone and Joint Institute team physician as well as an athletic trainer and emergency medical services (EMS) personnel provided by Williamson Health. Through the partnership with Bone and Joint Institute and Williamson Health, they bring impact to the community by providing sports medicine care each and every day to Williamson County student-athletes and their families

“By being involved in athletics as an orthopaedic surgeon, I’m able to help people get back to playing sports and doing the things they love and help them prevent future injuries,” said Dr. Arthur.

Here are some ways Dr. Arthur and his team ensure the safety of student-athletes on and off the field so that parents can rest assured that the well-being of their child is a top priority: 

Sideline Safety

During the fall football season, Dr. Arthur and the sports medicine team monitor the game from the sidelines, assessing injuries as they happen and directing future treatment. For players, coaches and parents, the program creates a sense of comfort before and during games.

“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.

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 protocols. 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.

Open Communication

“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. 

The team physicians are available to students during the week by providing evaluations, answering questions and attending games. Having physicians readily available helps the kids return from injury and get back on the field as soon as possible, said Dr. Arthur. 

Recovery Resources

In addition to on-campus resources, Bone and Joint Institute offers a Saturday morning walk-in clinic available to student-athletes for further exams 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.”

Preventative Training

Dr. Arthur’s job doesn’t end when the season does. He and the sports medicine team at Bone and Joint Institute and Williamson Medical Center look for injury patterns during the year to create preventative plans for coaches and players to follow.

“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 preseason to recovery, Bone and Joint Institute team physicians help and guide student-athletes every step of the way so parents can cheer from the sidelines stress-free.

“We love this community, and we’re proud to offer the highest level of care to our student-athletes so they can have a safe and successful athletic season,” said Dr. Arthur. 

For more information or to make an appointment, click here.