Sports medicine includes many medical disciplines working as a team to help athletes and sports enthusiasts of all ages and abilities prevent injury, improve performance and to diagnose and treat sports related injuries for rapid recovery.  The orthopedic role in sports medicine focuses on the musculoskeletal system and is often the most significant part of the sports medicine team.

Other essential disciplines related to sports medicine include:

   Cardio-respiratory
   Physical therapy and rehabilitation
   Athletic training
   Exercise physiology
   Environmental conditioning (altitude and temperature)
   Sports Nutrition
   Dermatology
   Dentistry
   Psychology

OPA medical staff are able to coordinate the efforts of all sports related disciplines to help athletes prevent and recover from injury, compete safely and achieve their optimal athletic performance.

OPA is the only orthopedic practice in the Anchorage Mat-Su area that provides the services of a full time Certified Athletic Trainer.  In addition, OPA physicians and surgeons make themselves available to diagnose and treat sports injuries immediately after they occur through PROMPT ACCESS, the only extended hours, walk-in sports injury clinic in Alaska.

OPA Certified Athletic Trainer
Sports Consultations, Performance Enhancement, Injury Prevention

   Lynne Young, M.Ed, ATC

Evaluating and re-evaluating readiness to play
Strapping/taping players and providing training for self strapping/taping
Therapeutic exercise planning
Gait training
Orthotic/brace fitting
Neuromuscular re-education
Pre-game instruction and training at coaches and players meetings
Attending to injuries during games and practices
Assisting physicians, surgeons and EMTs at games and practices
Post game rehabilitation
Consultation with parents, coaches, players and owners regarding injury prevention and rehabilitation for individual players.

OPA Sports Certified Orthopedic Physician Assistants
Sports Physicals, Injury diagnosis & treatment

   Jim Bliven, PA-C
   John Love, PA-C
   Colin Hickenlooper, PA-C
   Royce Morgan, PA-C
   Cal Heald, PA-C

OPA Sports Physicians, Surgeons
Sports Injury Diagnosis & Treatment 

   Back & Neck
   Shoulder
   Arm & Elbow
   Hand & Wrist
   Knee
   Hip & Leg
   Foot & Ankle