Sports medicine in Palo Alto

Palo Alto is an active town. The Dish loop, the Baylands levees, the climb up Old La Honda and the school fields along Embarcadero Road see heavy use every week. Injuries come with that. Sports medicine covers the doctors, surgeons, physical therapists and athletic trainers who treat strains, sprains, overuse injuries and concussions and get people back to their sport.

This page is general information, not medical advice. Clinics named here were confirmed on their own websites in November 2026 and are grouped by type, not ranked. Insurance rules decide much of the path, so check your plan first. For a serious injury, such as a possible broken bone with deformity, a head injury with loss of consciousness or numbness after a fall, call 911 or go to an emergency department.

Who treats sports injuries

Most injuries start with a visit to a primary care or sports medicine doctor rather than a surgeon. Many end with physical therapy alone. Our physical therapy guide lists more rehab clinics around town.

Stanford Health Care for adults

Stanford's adult orthopaedics and sports medicine clinic is in Redwood City, not on the Palo Alto medical campus. Its clinic page lists 450 Broadway Street in Redwood City. The appointment line is 650-723-5643, with callbacks available online. Stanford also has orthopaedic and sports medicine locations in Emeryville, Los Gatos and Pleasanton.

The same Redwood City complex holds Stanford's Orthopaedic and Sports Physical Therapy clinic, in Pavilion B31 on the third floor. Its page lists scheduling at 650-725-5106. Stanford asks patients to get a therapy prescription or referral from their medical provider for rehabilitation programs. Allow extra time for the drive at rush hour.

Young athletes: Stanford Medicine Children's Health

Children and teens are seen by Stanford Medicine Children's Health, which runs pediatric sports medicine with sports medicine doctors, physical therapists and athletic trainers. Its program lists:

• concussion testing and treatment
• minimally invasive procedures for sports injuries
• sports nutrition consultations with a sports dietitian
• a motion analysis and sports performance laboratory
• the Young Athletes Academy, which partners with school and club teams for sideline athletic training support and education

The closest location is the Mary L. Johnson Specialty Services building at 730 Welch Road in Palo Alto, near Lucile Packard Children's Hospital. Another site is at 1720 El Camino Real in Burlingame. Scheduling for all sites is (844) 41-ORTHO, which is (844) 416-7846. Our pediatric care guide covers everyday pediatricians.

Sutter's Palo Alto Medical Foundation

Sutter lists sports medicine among the more than 50 specialties at its Palo Alto Center, 795 El Camino Real, next to Town and Country Village. The same campus has hand surgery, imaging and Sutter's Palo Alto Physical Therapy and Hand Therapy clinic on the first floor of the Clark Building. For minor sprains and strains on an evening or weekend, Sutter's adult urgent care on the campus lists hours of 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. Its children's urgent care keeps the same hours. Our Palo Alto Medical Foundation guide covers parking.

Independent sports physical therapy

Independent clinics often offer longer visits and evening hours. One confirmed on its own site in 2026:

• Agile Physical Therapy, 3825 El Camino Real, (650) 565-8090. The company says it opened in Palo Alto in 2002 and that this is its flagship clinic. It describes hour-long one-on-one visits with a physical therapist. Services it lists include ACL rehab and prevention, running physical therapy, bike fit assessments, concussion rehabilitation, golf and weightlifting therapy and pregnancy and postpartum care. It posts weekday hours running into the evening Monday to Thursday.

Our physical therapy guide lists other clinics, including chiropractic and hand therapy.

Where to start for common problems

This table is a rough guide, not a diagnosis. When in doubt, call your doctor's advice line, which is usually printed on the back of your insurance card.

Kaiser members and veterans

Kaiser members should start with their Kaiser primary care doctor, who can refer to Kaiser orthopedics and physical therapy. Veterans enrolled in VA health care can ask their VA team about sports and musculoskeletal care. Our Kaiser guide lists the closest offices.

Concussions in school and club sports

California law sets clear rules for student athletes. A student suspected of a concussion or head injury in a school sport must be removed from the activity for the rest of the day. The student cannot return until a licensed health care provider trained in concussion management clears them in writing. A graduated return-to-play protocol follows, supervised by that provider. Schools give athletes and parents a concussion information sheet to sign each year. Our Paly and Gunn sports guide covers the school athletic programs.

Club teams outside school follow their league's own rules, which often mirror the state law. Seek emergency care right away for loss of consciousness, a seizure, repeated vomiting, a worsening headache or unequal pupils.

How to get seen quickly

1. Check the referral rule. HMO members usually need a primary care referral first. PPO members can often book a sports medicine doctor directly.
2. Use urgent care for acute injuries. A sprained ankle or a possible wrist fracture can often be X-rayed at urgent care the same day. Our urgent care guide lists local clinics and hours.
3. Bring details. Note how the injury happened, what makes it worse and any earlier injuries to the same spot. Bring shoes or gear if they might matter.
4. Ask about imaging in network. MRI and X-ray costs vary widely. Our lab tests and imaging guide lists local imaging centers.

Staying in the game

Most overuse injuries come from doing too much too soon. Build mileage or training load gradually, mix in strength work and replace worn running shoes. A gait check at a specialty running store can help. See our running stores guide. For strength training and classes, our gyms and fitness page lists local options.

Frequently asked questions