From Sideline to Bedside and Back, KOC Provides Treatment Through all Levels of Sport, Injury and Life
Angie Rogers says the diagnoses, treatment and advice she’s received from Knoxville Orthopaedic Clinic over the last 35 years has been correct 100 percent of the time.
The elementary school principal has had experience with KOC as an athlete, coach and mom.
Rogers first learned about KOC in high school from the athletic trainer who worked with her basketball and softball teams. Then while playing basketball in college, she tore her MCL and her college athletic trainer referred her to KOC for treatment, including physical therapy. An ACL tear her senior year at Carson-Newman sent her back to Knoxville Orthopaedic Clinic for surgery and rehabilitation. She was impressed with the coordination between her physician, physical therapist and athletic trainer and followed all advice as an athlete eager to get back in the game.
Rogers went on to become a middle school athletic director and high school basketball coach, again seeing KOC athletic trainers in action: assessing injuries on the sidelines, checking for concussions and determining when a student-athlete is fit to play.
She is sharing her story for National Athletic Training Month, celebrated each year in March.
She noted that athletes usually want to go back into the game and even well-meaning parents are eager for their children to play, so it’s incredibly important to have a professional advocating for a student’s long-term health and wellness.
“It really builds trust from those of us who have seen it on the sidelines, in the training rooms,” Rogers said. “If you go to an emergency room, you’re going to sit out for six weeks no matter what. Our parents really appreciated that KOC doctors would determine what was necessary and provide a treatment plan to get you back in the game.”
That’s one reason Rogers has repeatedly recommended Knoxville Orthopaedic Clinic to the students in her care and their families, as well as her own friends and relatives. She’s now a married mom of three active kids, and has returned as a KOC patient herself many times since the height of her athletic career.
“You can experience the standard at KOC, from the staff who remember your name to the surgeon who tells you what to expect, and is correct about it,” Rogers said.
She once broke her hand and didn’t want to have surgery. Her doctor told Rogers that she’d be back in two days after changing her mind, and she was, and the surgeon was ready for her. She has since made a complete recovery.
She’s already had one of her knees replaced and, after a great and quick recovery, she has scheduled a replacement for the other knee.
Rogers also has taken her sons to KOC physicians and KOC Urgent Care as they encountered injuries playing baseball.
A lifelong journey of trusted orthopaedic care began in her teens, and Rogers says she is grateful she and her family always know where to turn.
Knoxville Orthopaedic Clinic has a longstanding history of sports medicine outreach, supporting local athletes with KOC doctors serving as team physicians for area high schools and post-secondary institutions including the University of Tennessee, Carson-Newman University, Maryville College, Lincoln Memorial University and Johnson University. KOC providers also support professional teams including the Knoxville Smokies, One Knoxville Sporting Club and the Knoxville Ice Bears.