This fall, local athletes will have weekend access to the area’s leading sports medicine specialists at Houston Methodist The Woodlands Hospital’s Saturday morning sports injury clinic. 

The clinic will be open every Saturday from 8 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., beginning Aug. 20 through Nov. 5, on the first floor of the Houston Methodist Orthopedics & Sports Medicine facility at 4015 I-45 North in Conroe or call 936.270.4701.

“Fridays and Saturdays in the fall are filled with sports, from high school football on Friday nights to soccer, basketball and youth football on Saturday mornings,” says John Fackler, M.D., a board-certified orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine specialist with Houston Methodist The Woodlands Hospital. “Having the clinic open on Saturdays enables us to get a jump start on diagnosing and treating injuries so patients don’t have to wait until Monday.”

The sports injury clinic is open to the public; no appointments are necessary. Fackler will take turns staffing the clinic along with Marc Labbe, M.D., Eric Price, M.D., David Dice, M.D., and Kenneth Palmer, M.D., all from Houston Methodist The Woodlands Hospital. 

“Time is an important element in treating sports injuries,” Labbe said, “and the sooner we can see a patient who has been hurt during a game on Friday or Saturday, the faster we can recommend a course of treatment and get that athlete back on the road to recovery.”

The clinic will also offer on-site X-rays, if necessary, and a licensed athletic trainer will be on hand each Saturday to treat muscle and ligament sprains/strains.

“I’m excited to be a part of this clinic,” Price said. “Our goal is to provide the young athletes of our community with top-quality sports medicine care, close to home, and in a convenient and timely manner.  The clinic is a great way to help keep these athletes healthy and on the field.”

Dice stressed that one of Houston Methodist The Woodlands Hospital’s orthopedic/sports medicine physicians will be on hand each Saturday to ensure that patients are diagnosed properly.

“These types of Saturday morning clinics have proven to be very effective,” Dice said.  “Because we are focused on sports injuries, we typically have a shorter wait time than a general purpose emergency clinic, and we have all the resources we need right here.”

Palmer encouraged parents and high school/youth coaches to keep the clinic’s address and hours of operation on hand in the event of an injury that requires attention. 

“If there is any doubt, don’t hesitate,” he said.  “Come in and let us have a look, and we’ll create a treatment plan you can start on immediately.” 

About the Doctors

John Fackler, M.D., is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon who specializes in arthroscopy of the knee and shoulder, fracture care, general orthopedics and sports medicine. Click here to view video

Marc Labbe, M.D., is board-certified in orthopedic surgery and fellowship-trained in sports medicine, with certification of Added Qualification in sports medicine.  He specializes in arthroscopic surgery of the knee and shoulder, ligament reconstruction, musculoskeletal pain, general orthopedics and sports medicine. Click here to view video

Eric Price, M.D., is board-certified in orthopedic surgery and fellowship-trained in sports medicine and joint replacement surgery.   He specializes in arthroscopic surgery, fracture repair, foot, ankle, shoulder and hip surgery, reconstructive surgery, general orthopedics and sports medicine. Click here to view video

David Dice Jr., M.D., is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon who is fellowship-trained in hand and upper extremity surgery.  He specializes in surgery of the hand and upper extremities. Click here to view video

Kenneth Palmer, M.D., is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon who is fellowship-trained in spinal surgery.  He specializes in microsurgery and surgery of the neck, spine and lower back, including spinal fusions. Click here to view video

Houston Methodist Orthopedics & Sports Medicine provides leading edge, personalized care from diagnosis through rehabilitation. U.S. News & World Report consistently ranks Houston Methodist as a top destination for orthopedic care. Along with serving hundreds of area high schools and youth teams, we are the official health care provider for the Houston Texans, Houston Astros, Houston Dynamo, Houston Dash, Rice University Athletics, RodeoHouston®, Houston Symphony, Houston Grand Opera and Houston Ballet.

About Houston Methodist The Woodlands Hospital

Houston Methodist The Woodlands Hospital is a not-for-profit, faith-based hospital, which is part of Houston Methodist. For the fourth consecutive year, U.S. News & World Report recently named Houston Methodist Hospital the Best Hospital in Texas, with national rankings in 11 specialties. 

The Houston Methodist The Woodlands Medical Office building will open in early 2016, followed by the Hospital in July 2017.  

For more information on Houston Methodist The Woodlands campus, please visit houstonmethodist.org/thewoodlands. For more information about Houston Methodist, visit houstonmethodist.org. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook or visit our blog. To find a physician, call 713.790.3333.

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