Sports Medicine Arrives in Yavapai County

The days are getting longer, and the weather is warming up. In the Quad Cities, that means more opportunities to enjoy the outdoor recreational opportunities that our area is famous for. Whether you’re a serious athlete training for the Whiskey Row Marathon or a weekend warrior who looks forward to your Saturday morning hike, bike ride, or pickleball game, it’s reassuring to know that Dignity Health Yavapai Regional Medical Group has recently opened a clinic specifically dedicated to sports medicine, and it’s there whenever you need it.

Board Certified Orthopedic Surgeon Kyle Chun, MD, has designed the Dignity Health Sports Medicine program and leads the state-of-the-art clinic. In keeping with the wide array of services that Yavapai Regional offers, the new clinic boasts some of the finest practitioners anywhere. It’s conveniently located at 7700 E Florentine Road, Building B, Suite 202 in Prescott Valley, ready to serve the greater Quad-City area with flexible hours, after-hours, and same-day or next-day access.

Here’s what you need to know:

What is a sports medicine clinic?

Dignity Health Sports Medicine focuses on the diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of exercise and sports-related injuries. Just as importantly, it provides education on preventing injuries or re-injuries. This may include instruction on proper exercise techniques, the correct use of equipment, and conditioning exercises.

When an injury does occur, or if a patient is experiencing pain that won’t go away, sports medicine practitioners have the expertise and experience to quickly and accurately diagnose the issue. They develop a personalized treatment plan, often with the collaboration of other health care professionals. This ensures that the patient can get back to doing what they enjoy as soon as possible.

Dr. Chun especially enjoys being a source of support during his patients’ rehabilitation, monitoring their progress and adjusting their treatment as needed.

“I enjoy helping people and seeing them through,” he explains. “Athletes are used to being coached and pulled through difficult situations. I like doing that. I like seeing patients after surgery and walking them through their recovery. It’s rewarding.”

The new clinic boasts a spectrum of services and support, including in-clinic ultrasound, in-clinic imaging, and in-clinic injections such as platelet-rich plasma therapy. This eliminates the inconvenience of visiting a number of different specialists at outside locations.

I consider myself more of a weekend warrior. How can the new sports clinic help me?

People at all levels of physical activity can benefit from the new sports clinic. Consider a visit if you are experiencing pain during physical activity, or if you have a condition that needs further evaluation. Some people will visit if they want to improve their performance in a given activity or if they want to prevent future injuries.

Common issues include sprains, strains, fractures, dislocations, overuse injuries (such as shin splints), tendonitis, bursitis, knee injuries (such as ACL and meniscus tears), shoulder injuries (such as rotator cuff injuries), and tennis or golfer’s elbow.

What can I expect?

First, a thorough physical exam will be conducted. The practitioners will ask you about your athletic and/or physical history, as well as the concerns you have. Diagnostic tests such as an X-ray, ultrasound, MRI, or CT scan will be ordered if necessary.

Once a diagnosis has been made, a personalized treatment plan will be developed. Prescribed treatment can range from rest, ice, compression, elevation and/or over-the-counter medications — to physical therapy — to arthroscopy (a minimally invasive procedure), or other surgical interventions.

“The human body has an incredible ability to heal on its own if given the opportunity,” says Dr. Chun. “I try to avoid invasive treatments, and focus on rest, rehabilitation, and functional recovery strategies. I also try to employ regenerative medicine techniques when it is appropriate and only recommend surgical management when absolutely necessary.”

Finally, Dr. Chun and his team will guide you through the recovery and rehabilitation process, ensuring that you can get back to doing what you enjoy as soon as possible.

What about our student athletes?

Dignity Health Sports Medicine is giving back to the Quad Cities by offering their expertise to the student athletes at Prescott High School, Bradshaw Mountain High School, Chino Valley High School, and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. Training clinics, physicals, and direct access by the schools’ athletic training staff to our providers will help ensure that care for these young athletes is smooth and seamless from start to finish.

How do I learn more?

Dignity Health Sports Medicine is located at 7700 E Florentine Road, Building B, Suite 202 in Prescott Valley. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call (928) 458-2989.