When American River College football player Cameron Sampson, 20, was tackled after making an outstanding catch, he immediately knew something was wrong.

“I couldn’t straighten my knee,” said Sampson, who got injured last September at the Sacramento school. “I thought my knee was done.”

After meeting with sports medicine physician Scott Meier, MD, at Kaiser Permanente South Sacramento,  an MRI confirmed a torn meniscus. Orthopedic surgeon Thomas Powers, MD, also at South Sacramento, performed arthroscopic surgery. After the surgery, Sampson limited use of his leg for a few months and started physical therapy right away.  This led to a full recovery.

“Dr. Powers made it feel like I never got injured,” said Sampson who had been a receiver. “My knee feels completely brand new.”

A growing sports medicine program

Dr. Meier, who specializes in ultrasound and interventional treatment, attributes Sampson’s successful recovery to the department’s good relationships with athletic trainers, sports physical therapists, and the orthopedic surgeons. Sampson’s adherence to his six-month rehabilitation regime with his dedicated sports medicine physical therapy team was also a key factor.

“In the end, a lot of credit goes to Cameron,” Dr. Meier said. “He put in the work, and clearly it is paying off.”

South Sacramento’s comprehensive sports medicine program has subspeciality trained sports medicine physicians who provide care to all levels of athletes and people who want to stay active. The Sports Medicine Department, located at the Elk Grove Promenade Medical Offices, also offers focused sports physical therapy to support patient rehabilitation.

“Every member of our team goes above and beyond to simply help our patients be as active as they can be,” Dr. Powers said. “South Sacramento works to help care for a very diverse patient population.”

Dr. Meier co-leads a committee that evaluates innovative sports medicine treatments offered at Kaiser Permanente. One new offering is platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections to treat tendon, muscle, and ligament injuries. This is a fee-for-service treatment option for patients who have previously sought treatment outside of Kaiser Permanente.

“This new program allows us to take care of our patients as a whole, instead of having to send them out (outside of Kaiser Permanente) and then bring them back in,” Dr. Meier said. “We are able to provide it (PRP) as part of our care and maintain continuity throughout the care process.”

The department also serves the community. Dr. Meier is the medical director for local Kaiser Permanente-sponsored sports events, including the IRONMAN California, Running of the Elk, and Women’s Fitness Festival.  He was also recently the co-medical director of the Homeless World Cup that made its United States debut in the summer of 2023.

NFL dreams

Cameron returned to playing football in April. He is currently being recruited by Division 1 colleges. While he hopes to be drafted by the NFL, he also seeks to be the first person in his family to graduate from college.

“There were times I was going to give up and not play football, said Sampson. “Dr. Powers told me if you want it bad, you are going to go get it. If you love the sport so much, then you are going to do what you love to do.”

Sampson said he now has more strength and is even performing better than before he was injured.

“Cameron worked really hard to get back to his prior level of play,” said Dr. Powers. “He had an optimal outcome. That’s how we like to take care of our patients.”

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