Banner Sports Medicine Facility – Revolutionizing Athlete Care

The Banner Sports Medicine High Performance Center in Scottsdale, Arizona, is a game changer for Phoenix athletes at all skill levels. The center’s interdisciplinary team approach provides performance evaluation, leading-edge treatments, and surgical procedures designed to minimize injuries and advance recovery. Initiating an era of personalized health care for athletes, the facility is not just for professional athletes, athletes of all ages and skill levels can seek treatment here.

Steven M. Erickson, MD, director of the Division of Sports Medicine/Concussion at the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix, emphasizes the inclusivity of their approach: "If you have a medical or orthopedic issue that is affecting your ability to do your recreational activity or sport, then you're an athlete in our mind, and we want to help you regardless of your level of participation."

As part of their comprehensive sports medicine delivery training, fellows in the Family Medicine/ Sports Medicine Fellowship at the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix program treat patients and participate in research at the center.

Every athlete's situation is unique, and the clinicians at this facility approach each case with a personalized perspective, tailoring their treatment to enhance performance.

As Dr. Erickson describes, "It provides all of the things that an athlete might need under one roof, one-stop shopping."

Dr. Erickson illustrates the approach with an example of an athlete suffering from a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), one of the most common knee injuries among athletes.

"We can diagnose a patient’s ACL tear in the office, obtain an MRI done within a couple of days within the facility, then see one of the orthopedic surgeons for a pre-op consult, and then have surgery on the third floor of this building. After that, they can go down to the first floor for physical therapy. Because they've lost their season due to the injury, they often experience anxiety and stress. That's when they can see our sports psychologist to address the emotional aspects and anxiety of returning to play and work with our sports dietician to optimize recovery," he said.

Collaboration is the cornerstone of the sports medicine facility's approach to delivering the best care for athletes. Their collaborative, data-driven approach extends to research.

Kristen Renner, PhD, is the director of biomechanics at the center. "We conduct a full-body assessment, looking at range of motion and strength. Depending on the athlete, we cater to what they want to improve," she said.

Dr. Renner, a biomedical engineer by training, emphasizes the importance of knowledge sharing. "This facility is designed as a collaborative space, intended to benefit all athletes and extend its impact to conferences and other medical professionals," she explained. "The doctors at this facility hope to have a positive impact on overall wellness and inspire more individuals to embrace an athletic lifestyle. In their view, everyone has the potential to be an athlete, and their goal is to support you in achieving yours."

The Banner Sports Medicine High Performance Center is not just a place for treatment; it's a center for empowerment, where athletes of all levels can discover their potential and receive the support they need to excel in their chosen sport.