Sports Medicine Specialists in Duluth, MN
Treating Athletes and Active Patients Across Northern Minnesota
A sports injury affects more than the injured area. It affects your training, your season, and your ability to do what you have built your routine around. At Orthopaedic Associates of Duluth, our sports medicine team treats the full range of athletic injuries and musculoskeletal conditions, from acute ligament tears to chronic overuse problems, using surgical and non-surgical approaches depending on what the diagnosis calls for.
Our board-certified surgeons, physician assistants, physical and occupational therapists, and certified athletic trainers work as a coordinated team. That means your evaluation, treatment plan, and rehabilitation are managed by the same group of people, without referrals to outside providers or gaps between your surgical and therapy care.
Common Sports Injuries and Conditions We Treat
Foot, Ankle, Knee, Hip, Shoulder, Hand, and Wrist Injuries
Arthroscopy of the Ankle, Knee, Hip, Shoulder, and Wrist
ACL/MCL/PCL/LCL,Meniscus Repair
Ligament and Joint Reconstruction
Dislocations
Tennis or Golf Elbow
Muscle and Joint Sprains and Strains
Tendon Strains
Patellar Dislocation
Rotator Cuff Tears
Ulnar Collateral Ligament Reconstruction (Tommy John Surgery)
Turf Toe
How We Treat Sports Injuries at Orthopaedic Associates
Surgical Treatment
Our sports medicine surgeons perform arthroscopic and open procedures for ligament reconstructions, meniscus repair, cartilage restoration, rotator cuff repair, labral repair, and joint replacement. Arthroscopic procedures are performed through small incisions and typically involve shorter recovery than open surgery. Your surgeon will discuss whether surgery is the appropriate path based on the diagnosis, the extent of the injury, and your goals.
Non-Surgical Treatment
Not every sports injury requires an operation. Our physicians also provide non-operative management including physical therapy referrals, musculoskeletal ultrasound-guided injections for arthritis and tendon conditions, and activity modification plans. Dr. Heather Grothe holds RMSK certification and AIUM accreditation in musculoskeletal ultrasound, and performs ultrasound-guided injections for the shoulder, elbow, wrist, hip, knee, foot, and ankle.
Prehabilitation Programs for Athletes Considering Surgery
For patients who are considering surgery or want to improve their condition before committing to a surgical plan, we offer prehabilitation programs designed to strengthen the affected area and the surrounding muscle groups ahead of any procedure. Patients who arrive at surgery in better physical condition often recover more effectively. In some cases, the work done during prehabilitation reduces the severity of the problem enough that surgery may not be necessary at all. Your physician and therapy team will assess together whether a prehabilitation program is appropriate for your situation, and will build the plan around your diagnosis and your timeline.
Our Sports Medicine Team in Duluth, MN
Board-Certified Sports Medicine Surgeons
Our sports medicine surgeons hold board certification in orthopaedic surgery, with several holding subspecialty certification in sports medicine. They treat injuries across all major joints and work directly with our therapy team and athletic trainers throughout your care.
Samuel P. Harms, MD
Board-Certified in Orthopaedic Surgery, Sports Medicine subspecialty. Fellowship trained at the Cincinnati Sports Medicine and Orthopaedic Center, where he assisted with medical coverage for the Cincinnati Bengals. Specializes in complex knee ligament reconstruction, knee cartilage restoration, meniscus transplant, shoulder labrum repair, and hip arthroscopy.
Available: Duluth, Hibbing
Phillip L. Thomas, MD
Board-Certified Orthopaedic Surgeon. Fellowship trained at Twin Cities Orthopedics where he trained with world renowned surgeons. Specializes in hip, knee, and shoulder surgery with a focus on sports medicine and cartilage restoration. Treats ACL, PCL, MCL, and PLC reconstruction, labrum repair, FAI correction, rotator cuff repair, and complex knee revision surgery.
Available: Rock Ridge/Virginia, Hibbing, Grand Rapids, Ely.
Patrick G. Hall, MD
Board-Certified Orthopaedic Surgeon, Sports Medicine. ACL reconstruction, meniscal repair, arthroscopic shoulder surgery, rotator cuff repair, and minimally invasive joint replacement including direct anterior hip replacement.
Available: Duluth, Hibbing, Rock Ridge/Virginia.
Michael C. Momont, MD
Board-Certified, Sports Medicine Fellowship. ACL reconstruction, meniscal repair, arthroscopic knee and shoulder surgery, knee and hip replacement, Mako Robotic Knee and Hip Replacement.
Available: Duluth, Moose Lake, Sandstone.
Heather L. Grothe, MD
Board-Certified in Sports Medicine and Family Medicine. Fellowship trained at the University of Colorado. Former Division I team physician at the University of Minnesota Duluth and Medical Director of the 2023 Women’s Frozen Four. RMSK certified with AIUM accreditation in musculoskeletal ultrasound. Specializes in non-surgical sports medicine, ultrasound-guided injections, tendon and ligament conditions, and arthritis management.
Available: Duluth, Rock Ridge/Virginia.
Physical and Occupational Therapists
Our physical and occupational therapy team works in direct coordination with our physicians. Your therapy plan is built around your specific diagnosis and surgical findings, not a generic protocol. Therapy services are available at our main Duluth clinic and our Hermantown therapy location.
Sports-specific programs and specialties available through our therapy team include:
- Sportsmetrics ACL injury prevention program
- Running assessments and custom running programs
- Return to sport programs and functional testing
- Upper extremity rehabilitation for hand, wrist, elbow, and shoulder conditions
- Dry needling for upper and lower body
- Certified Integrated Manual Therapy
- Functional Capacity Assessments
- Ergonomic evaluations
Our therapists hold Doctorate and Master’s-level training in physical and occupational therapy, with specialty certifications in manual therapy, running rehabilitation, hand therapy, dry needling, and lymphedema treatment.
Physical and Occupational Therapists
Our certified athletic trainers collaborate directly with our physicians on injury evaluation, diagnosis, treatment planning, and preventative care for student athletes and active patients. Athletic training at Orthopaedic Associates covers examination and diagnosis of acute and chronic injuries, strength and conditioning for injury prevention, and return-to-activity programming built around sports and exercise science.
Our team includes ImPACT-trained certified athletic trainers who perform concussion baseline testing and post-injury concussion impact assessments, providing objective data to support safe return-to-play decisions.
Athletic Trainers: Julie Lange ATC (ImPACT Certified), Melissa Kriske ATC, Brad Kern ATC, Mike Wild ATC.