Sports Medicine Associates of San Antonio has teamed up with Texas Physical Therapy Specialists and St. Mary’s Athletics to create one of the best sports medicine programs possible exclusive to St. Mary’s University students, athletes, faculty, and staff. Below SMASA’s Dr. Saenz, TexPTS’s Dr. Roggia, Executive Director of Athletics at St. Mary’s University Robert Coleman, and other team members talk about this revolutionary partnership.    Dr. P. Saenz: I'm very pleased to announce something that I think is very revolutionary and innovative in the San Antonio community. And that's a ..read more

It’s no lie, Texans love football. Everybody has their favorite NFL team. There's nothing like college football for some fast-paced action. But neither compares to those Friday Night Lights! Texas High School Football is the real deal. There is an unbeatable unity there. As a sport, it is exciting, fast-paced, and highly competitive. The physical demands of the sport ensure that every player will suffer bumps and bruises throughout the season. Just like with any sport, injuries are a major concern for all athletes. Every time a player steps out onto that field, they run the risk of getting inj ..read more

Being a team doctor for a professional sports team takes a lot of time, effort, and dedication. “The bottom line is when you take care of a professional sports organization, you're on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.” - Dr. Schmidt Our very own Dr. Schmidt, Dr. Saenz, and Dr. Young are the team doctors for the San Antonio Spurs. They know first hand what it takes! Continue reading to learn more about the availability, flexibility, and responsibility that comes along with being the teams sports medicine physicians. Being available 24/7/365 Being a physician for the San An ..read more

Dr. Schmidt’s Most Memorable Moment Dr. Schmidt officially became the San Antonio Spurs head physician in 1993. But, he had some involvement with the organization long before that. He had been with his partner at the time, Jack Henry, since 1986. Henry was with the team for 17 years before passing it along to Dr. Schmidt. He has now been with the Spurs for 29 years, 25 of those years being when this organization was the best professional sports franchise in America. Over the course of his time with the Spurs, his most memorable moment was witnessing the NBA Championship of 1999. Dr. Schmidt w ..read more

What is PRP? To keep it short and sweet, PRP stands for platelet rich plasma. What is PRP used to treat? PRP is a biologic therapy that is very contemporary in its use in the field of orthopedics and sports medicine. It's used in all areas of medicine at this point. But in our area, we use it to treat: arthritic conditions, degenerative conditions, problems involving ligaments, problems involving tendons, and all with the idea that we're capitalizing on Mother Nature's own reparative cells. What makes PRP different than other types of injections or treatment? Platelets release your o ..read more

DOC TALK is a series where our Sports Medicine Physicians discuss YOUR questions. Our patients and community ask questions then our group of physicians sit down to answer them. Have a question you want to submit? DM us on Facebook or Instagram! Below Dr. Girling and Dr. Palomera answer: What Type Of Injections Do You Offer?    Dr. Palomera: So you take care of a lot of wear and tear arthritis, you still do a lot of trauma, as well. Especially when you have a new referral. Let's talk hip and knee, particularly about those who come to you, potentially surgical candidates, that haven't ..read more

Dr. Girling shares a day in his life as an orthopedic surgeon specializing in adult reconstructive surgery—notably full and partial knee & hip replacements. “I really love what I do. I wake up in the morning thinking about surgeries.” — Dr. Girling Dr. Girling loves to operate and really enjoys being in the operating room. However, he will never rush a patient into the operating room without the patient having failed all treatment options available for their condition.  ‘Going in and seeing a patient that I've been working with in a clinic setting, who we’ve tried all treatment optio ..read more

DOC TALK is a series where our Sports Medicine Physicians discuss YOUR questions. Our patients and community ask questions then our group of physicians sit down to answer them. Have a question you want to submit? DM us on Facebook or Instagram! Below Dr. Girling and Dr. Palomera answer: When Should You See A Doctor?    Dr. Girling: Alright Doc, so I get this one a lot. When do I need to come see you? I've had an injury, something happened, swelling, pain, whatever. And, maybe I've lived with it for a while, when's the right time to come in and see SMASA? Dr. Palomera: That's an easi ..read more

Arguably, the best time of the year is football season. ‘Football Sunday’ has become a part of family traditions and is highly anticipated by many. While football is part of the American DNA, one side of the sport that isn’t talked about enough is the high risk for injuries. For that reason, Dr. S. Saenz breaks down common injuries and how to prevent them in case there’s a football player in your life.  Common Injuries  Ligamentous Injuries The most common injuries seen during football season at Sports Medicine Associates of San Antonio are ligament injuries, especially those th ..read more

DOC TALK is a series where our Sports Medicine Physicians discuss YOUR questions. Our patients and community ask questions then our group of physicians sit down to answer them. Have a question you want to submit? DM us on Facebook or Instagram! Below Dr. Girling and Dr. Palomera answer: Does SMASA Treat Back Pain?    Dr. Girling: Alright, Doc, I get this one a lot, I've got back pain, do y'all treat that? Dr. Palomera: I get that one a lot, too. When it comes to spine pain, mostly low back, some neck, we actually have several doctors that treat it, especially our sports medicine or ..read more