Sports Medicine in Nashville, TN
A sports injury changes everything. One wrong step, one hard landing, one collision, and suddenly the activities that define your daily life are off the table. Whether you are a competitive athlete trying to return to peak performance or someone who refuses to let a nagging knee or shoulder keep you from staying active, you deserve a sports medicine physician who understands exactly what is at stake.
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Dr. Damon H. Petty is board-certified in both orthopedic surgery AND sports medicine. He is a fellowship-trained sports medicine specialist with over 25 years of experience treating knee, shoulder, elbow, and hip injuries in Nashville. He has served as Head Orthopedic Team Physician for the Tennessee Titans from 2018 to 2026 and as the head team physician for Tennessee State University for the last 15 years. He was also the head orthopedic doctor for the Nashville Sounds baseball team for years. Dr. Petty brings the same diagnostic precision and treatment protocols he uses for professional athletes to every patient who walks through his door at Tennessee Orthopaedic Alliance (TOA).
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What makes his practice different from a typical sports medicine clinic in Nashville: Dr. Petty is one of the only providers who offers sports medicine evaluation, regenerative treatments like PRP and stem cell therapy, and the full range of orthopedic surgery, all from the same physician. You get one doctor who can guide your care from initial diagnosis through recovery, whether that means a targeted injection, physical therapy, or reconstructive surgery.
What Is Sports Medicine?
Sports medicine is a branch of medicine focused on the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of injuries related to physical activity and exercise. While the name suggests it is only for athletes, sports medicine physicians treat anyone dealing with musculoskeletal pain or injury, from high school athletes and weekend runners to adults recovering from overuse conditions or degenerative joint disease.
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A sports medicine approach differs from general orthopedic care in its emphasis on returning patients to their activities as quickly and safely as possible. Whether the goal is competitive athletic performance or simply living without pain, your plan is built around what matters to you. Sports injuries affect everyone differently, and a sports medicine specialist accounts for your age, activity level, and long-term goals when recommending next steps. Sports medicine physicians coordinate with athletic trainers, physical therapists, and rehabilitation specialists to create a seamless care plan from diagnosis through full recovery.
Your Sports Medicine Orthopedic Surgeon in Nashville
Dr. Petty is a fellowship-trained sports medicine orthopedic surgeon, which means he completed a full orthopedic surgery residency at the Cleveland Clinic followed by additional subspecialty training in sports medicine under Drs. James Andrews and William Clancy at one of the most selective fellowships in the country. That combination of surgical expertise and sports-specific training shapes how he approaches every patient.
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Rather than defaulting to a single treatment pathway, Dr. Petty evaluates your injury and builds a plan from the full range of options available to a sports medicine surgeon. That plan might include one or several of the following approaches, depending on your diagnosis, your activity goals, and how your body has responded to previous treatment. He does this for multi-million dollar athletes and will do it for you.
Conservative Care and Rehabilitation
For many sports injuries, the right physical therapy program is the most effective path to recovery. Dr. Petty works directly with athletic trainers and physical therapists to design rehabilitation protocols tailored to your specific injury and the demands of your sport or daily activities. This is not a generic exercise sheet. It is a structured return-to-activity program built by a surgeon who understands the anatomy and biomechanics of the joint being treated.​
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Regenerative Medicine: PRP and Stem Cell Therapy
When conservative care alone is not enough but surgery is not yet necessary, regenerative treatments can bridge the gap. Dr. Petty performs PRP (platelet-rich plasma) injections and bone marrow aspirate concentrate (BMAC) stem cell therapy under ultrasound guidance. These biologic treatments concentrate your body's own healing factors and deliver them directly to the damaged tissue. PRP is effective for tendon injuries, mild to moderate arthritis, and chronic inflammation. BMAC addresses deeper structural damage including cartilage defects and advanced joint degeneration. Both procedures are performed in-office during a single visit.
Ultrasound-Guided Injections
Corticosteroid, hyaluronic acid, and biologic injections are all delivered with real-time ultrasound imaging. Precision placement matters because it ensures the treatment reaches the exact tissue that needs it, not the surrounding area. Dr. Petty performs every injection personally.
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Arthroscopic and Reconstructive Surgery
When an injury requires structural repair, Dr. Petty performs minimally invasive arthroscopic surgery and full reconstructive procedures. ACL reconstruction, rotator cuff repair, labral repair, meniscus surgery, UCL reconstruction (Tommy John), and cartilage restoration are all within his scope. Surgery is recommended only when it offers the most predictable and effective outcome for your specific condition. Because Dr. Petty manages your care from initial evaluation through post-surgical rehabilitation, there are no gaps, no referrals, and no starting over with a new physician.
Conditions We Treat with Sports Medicine in Nashville
Dr. Petty's practice focuses on the sports injuries and musculoskeletal conditions most likely to limit your performance and quality of life. Each condition below can be managed with the full range of options described above, from conservative rehabilitation to surgical reconstruction.
ACL, MCL, and PCL tears. Meniscus tears and cartilage damage. Patellar tendonitis and patellofemoral pain. Knee osteoarthritis. If physical therapy and rest have not resolved your knee pain, a thorough evaluation with imaging can identify the exact source and the most effective treatment path.
Shoulder Injuries
Rotator cuff tears and impingement. Labral tears and shoulder instability. Shoulder separation and AC joint injuries. Chronic shoulder pain from overhead sports or repetitive motion. Dr. Petty performs arthroscopic shoulder surgery when needed and offers regenerative options for partial tears.
Elbow and Throwing Injuries
UCL tears (Tommy John injuries). Tennis elbow and golfer's elbow. Elbow arthroscopy for loose bodies and osteochondral defects. Dr. Petty's fellowship under Dr. Andrews included extensive training in throwing athlete care and he applied this as the head orthopedic physician for the Nashville Sounds AAA baseball team and for hundreds of baseball players over the years.
Hip Injuries
Labral tears and femoroacetabular impingement (FAI). Hip bursitis and tendinopathy. Early hip arthritis in active patients. Hip arthroscopy for athletes and active adults who want to preserve joint function.
Sports Concussions
Sideline concussion evaluation protocols and return-to-play decisions for athletes at all levels. Sports concussion management requires structured assessment and coordinated care with neurologists and athletic trainers when needed.
Your First Sports Medicine Consultation: What to Expect
Every first sports medicine consultation with Dr. Petty follows the same five-step framework so you know exactly what to expect.
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Evaluation
Dr. Petty reviews your medical history, imaging, and symptoms. He performs a hands-on physical examination to assess joint stability, range of motion, and pain patterns.
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Imaging
If additional imaging is needed, onsite X-ray is available. MRI and advanced imaging are coordinated through TOA for fast turnaround.
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Diagnosis
You receive a clear explanation of your condition, what is causing your pain, and what the imaging shows. Dr. Petty takes time to answer questions.
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Treatment plan
A personalized plan that may include physical therapy, injections, regenerative medicine, or surgery. You understand every option, the expected timeline, and what recovery looks like before making any decisions.
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Follow-up
Ongoing monitoring and adjustments to your treatment plan as you recover. Dr. Petty manages your care from start to finish, so the relationship that begins at the first consultation continues through full recovery.
Why Choose Dr. Petty for Sports Medicine in Nashville
Fellowship-trained under Drs. James Andrews and William Clancy. Dr. Petty completed one of the most selective sports medicine fellowships in the country at the American Sports Medicine Institute. His training included the care of professional and collegiate athletes across multiple sports.
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Tennessee Titans Head Orthopedic Team Physician (2018 to 2026). Dr. Petty provides the same level of care, diagnostic tools, and treatment protocols to Nashville patients that NFL athletes receive on game day. He also serves as team physician for Tennessee State University and formerly for the Nashville Sounds.
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Board-certified in Orthopedic Surgery and in Sports Medicine. Harvard BA (honors), University of Virginia School of Medicine, Cleveland Clinic residency. Member of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) and American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine (AOSSM). Published in the American Journal of Sports Medicine.
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Surgeon-performed care. Every evaluation, injection, and operation is performed by Dr. Petty personally, never delegated to a PA, NP, or technician.
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Full spectrum of care. Sports medicine evaluation, regenerative medicine (PRP and stem cells), and the complete range of orthopedic surgery, all from one provider. Your care is never fragmented across multiple offices or physicians.
Patient Reviews
"Six weeks post-ACL and feeling good as new. They helped set expectations and delivered exactly what they promised."
- damonhpettymd.com
"From the moment I walked in, I felt welcomed and well cared for. Dr. Petty was thorough, patient, and took the time to listen to my concerns."
- damonhpettymd.com
"Dr. Petty performed the surgery on my left shoulder. Dr. Petty did a fantastic job of repairing my shoulder. I will go back to him if I need any more orthopedic surgery. I always recommend him to anyone needing orthopedic surgery."
- Healthgrades
"Dr. Petty repaired my knee when I was in my late 50s, which allowed me to continue running and competing. Days later he performed a six hour surgery to piece everything back together. It took several metal plates to hold everything in place. Today my shoulder performs better than before the accident. I recently competed in the National Duathlon Championship and qualified for the World Duathlon Championship."
- Jerry S., Nashville
Our Nashville Sports Medicine Clinic
Dr. Petty sees patients through Tennessee Orthopaedic Alliance (TOA) at 8 City Blvd, Nashville, TN 37209 (ONEC1TY). Phone: (615) 329-6600. Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
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We serve patients from Nashville, Brentwood, Franklin, Murfreesboro, Hendersonville, Gallatin, Lebanon, and communities throughout Middle Tennessee. Dr. Petty also sees patients who travel for world-class care, some from over 500 miles away, including recent patients from Kansas City, drawn by his specific expertise and reputation.
Frequently Asked Questions About Sports Medicine
