May. 12, 2026
Knoxville Orthopaedic Clinic (KOC) will continue its tradition of providing low-cost preparticipation physical evaluations for high school students preparing for summer sports, training and the upcoming 2026-27 athletic season. KOC, the region’s leader in orthopaedic sports medicine, has offered this service for more than 35 years as part of its mission to keep student-athletes healthy and safe.
“Our goal is to remove barriers and make it a convenient option for busy families to prepare for summer and school activities,” said Dr. Greg Mathien, a KOC sports medicine surgeon and team physician for Tennessee Athletics. “By offering accessible sports screenings, we’re helping students stay active and ready for the seasons ahead.”
Open to all rising high school freshmen through seniors, the screenings cost $15 and can be paid by card, cash or check. No appointments are required, but a schedule by school can be found online at kocortho.com/physicals.
Parents or guardians will be asked to complete documents, including history and consent, concussion and sudden cardiac arrest forms ahead of the visit, which can also be found on the KOC sports screenings page under the “About” tab.
The physical assessments are designed to meet the requirements for participation set by the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association (TSSAA). The screenings are not intended to replace comprehensive health evaluations by an individual’s doctor. If, during the exam, a provider detects a potentially hazardous condition, further evaluation by the athlete’s personal physician may be required before participation would be recommended.
Knoxville Orthopaedic Clinic has a longstanding history of 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 SC and the Knoxville Ice Bears.
For more information about preparticipation physical evaluations and other sports medicine outreach efforts, visit kocortho.com.
About Knoxville Orthopaedic Clinic
Knoxville Orthopaedic Clinic is the region’s largest provider of orthopaedic care and services with more than 520,000 patient visits annually at 12 East Tennessee locations. As a network of convenient and accessible clinics that provide exceptional orthopaedic care across the region, KOC comprises 10 office locations; two ambulatory surgery centers; and additional services including urgent care, MRI, orthotics and bracing, physical and occupational therapy and sports medicine outreach. KOC’s more than 150 orthopaedic experts, supported by over 1,000 team members, provide a superior quality of diagnostic proficiency; when needed, an unmatched level of surgical expertise; and a patient-centered approach to deliver unparalleled personalized treatment. The network recently earned a “Top Workplace” ranking for 2025 from Knoxville News Sentinel based on employee surveys measuring company culture. For more information, visit kocortho.com.
