Written by Brad Pfeifle, Vice President of Sports Medicine and Rehab Services at Orthopedic Institute. For over 30 years, Brad has worked with numerous athletes, coaches, parents, and people wanting to get back to doing what they enjoy.
When you walk through the doors at Orthopedic Institute, you see more than a clinic. You see an entire sports medicine team ready to meet you where you are. Maybe you are training for your next season. Maybe you are dealing with an injury. Maybe you need help getting back to the activities you love. Every step of that journey can happen here.
Care From Trusted Sports Medicine Experts
Training prepares the body, but sports always carry risk. A quick pivot, a sudden collision, or a misstep can change a season in seconds. When injuries happen, Orthopedic Institute sports medicine physicians and athletic trainers step in with immediate care.
The sports medicine team does more than treat injuries after the fact. Athletic trainers are on the sidelines of games across the region, providing in-the-moment evaluations and treatment. From high school gyms to college fields to professional arenas, OI’s trainers watch over athletes when they need it most. If an injury requires further evaluation, physicians offer advanced diagnostic tools and treatment options tailored to each case. They also provide regenerative medicine treatments that support the body’s natural healing process, helping reduce pain, restore mobility, and promote long-term recovery.
This continuity gives athletes confidence. They see familiar faces at every step of the process, from on-field care to follow-up appointments. The same experts trusted by universities, high schools, and professional teams also care for weekend warriors and recreational athletes in the community.
Therapy That Restores Movement and Strength
Injury care is only the beginning. Recovery takes time, patience, and professional guidance. Orthopedic Institute physical therapists and occupational therapists play a key role in that process. Their focus is not just on healing, but on returning you to full movement and daily life.
Physical therapy addresses pain, stiffness, and weakness. Therapists design individualized programs to rebuild strength and restore range of motion. Sessions may include hands-on manual therapy, targeted exercise, aquatic therapy, dry needling, or blood flow restriction training. Each treatment reduces pain and restores confidence in movement.
Occupational therapy expands recovery into everyday function. For athletes, that means regaining grip strength, coordination, or fine motor skills after an injury. For active individuals, that might mean rebuilding the ability to work, lift, or perform household activities without pain.
Therapy goes beyond the clinic walls, equipping patients with tools and exercises to use at home. As part of our comprehensive sports medicine program, we also offer a structured return-to-play program to help athletes transition safely and confidently from rehabilitation back into sport.
Training That Builds Strength and Confidence
Performance is the starting point for many athletes. You want to move faster, jump higher, and compete with more power. OI Performance makes that possible. Coaches work with youth athletes just learning the fundamentals, high school competitors aiming for the next level, and adults training for lifelong health.
Inside the facility you find turf, weights, and expert coaches who know how to bring out the best in every athlete. Programs like Game Speed sharpen mechanics, improve acceleration, and build explosive power. Jump Lab teaches proper jump technique while helping prevent knee or ankle injuries.
Athletic Foundations introduces younger athletes to safe lifting and movement skills. Adults step into bootcamps or strength classes designed to push endurance, build muscle, and keep fitness goals on track.
Every program balances challenge with safety. Athletes leave each session stronger, faster, and more confident.
One Team. One Goal.
Every part of sports medicine connects at Orthopedic Institute. Physicians communicate directly with therapists and trainers and update coaches. This collaboration means your care plan is not a series of separate steps. It is a smooth path designed around your needs.
Instead of bouncing between different facilities, you stay with one team that knows your history and supports your future. That single-team approach saves time, removes stress, and delivers better results.
Serving Tea and Surrounding Communities
With locations across South Dakota, Iowa, and Minnesota, including our main office in Tea, South Dakota, exceptional orthopedic care is always within reach. Orthopedic Institute delivers a complete model of care for athletes, active individuals, and patients of all ages. Whether you want to train harder, recover smarter, or prevent the next setback, the team is here to help you move forward with confidence.
Get Relief. Move Better. Live Stronger.