Thomas Sports and Regenerative Orthopedics
A Diagnosis-Driven Approach to Musculoskeletal Care

Pain is only one part of a musculoskeletal problem. The harder questions are often why it developed, what is preventing recovery, and how the condition fits into a patient’s work, training, movement, and daily life. At Thomas Sports and Regenerative Orthopedics (TSARO), those questions shape the approach to care. The practice starts by identifying the underlying problem and understanding the patient’s goals before determining the appropriate treatment path.

Founded in 2024 by Ian Thomas, MD, TSARO provides direct physician access in a high-touch, concierge-style setting. The practice serves athletes, active adults, and others whose work and lives depend on movement. For Dr. Thomas, being an athlete is less about age or competitive status than about what a person wants to remain capable of doing.

Diagnosis comes first. Dynamic musculoskeletal ultrasound allows TSARO to evaluate muscles, tendons, ligaments, joints, and peripheral nerves in real time while correlating findings with symptoms and physical examination. Patients can often see the findings themselves as Dr. Thomas explains how the anatomy relates to their symptoms and movement. His fellowship training in Primary Care Sports Medicine through Harvard Medical School and Boston Children’s Hospital, along with additional training in ultrasound, regenerative medicine, and strength and conditioning, informs this approach.

Once the initial assessment is complete, TSARO considers three questions: what is the diagnosis, what is preventing recovery, and what are the patient’s goals? Those factors help determine whether the appropriate path is rehabilitation, activity modification, a minimally invasive procedure, regenerative treatment, or referral for surgery. The practice considers evidence, alternatives, expected recovery, limitations, costs, and realistic likelihood of success when discussing treatment options. Options may include regenerative treatments, Tenex, shockwave therapy, Scrambler Therapy, and ultrasound-guided interventions, but the procedure itself is not the starting point.

“Our job is not to sell a procedure. It is to help the patient understand their condition and choose the treatment strategy that gives them the best opportunity to achieve what matters most to them,” says Dr. Thomas.

That philosophy also means recognizing when the best treatment lies outside TSARO. If surgery is appropriate, Dr. Thomas helps connect the patient with a suitable specialist. The goal is to determine the strategy that best fits the patient’s condition and goals.

Its care approach also extends beyond the physician to a broader team, with TSARO involving physical therapists, athletic trainers, strength and conditioning professionals, coaches, dietitians, or surgical colleagues depending on the patient’s needs. Dr. Thomas’s background in strength and conditioning adds perspective on movement, biomechanics, workload, and performance. The practice also draws patients from other states and internationally. TSARO offers techniques that are difficult to find elsewhere, including the Guo Technique for minimally invasive carpal tunnel release and a modified d’Hemecourt Technique for slipping rib syndrome, giving appropriately selected patients access to less invasive treatment options that may offer substantially shorter recovery and less disruption.

One patient illustrates the model. Referred by a local surgeon with chronic anterior knee pain that had prevented him from working for years, he underwent a comprehensive evaluation including physical examination, diagnostic ultrasound, prior imaging, and medical records. Dr. Thomas recommended a trial of Scrambler Therapy. After the first treatment, the patient reported shopping with his wife without pain for the first time in years. Following a second treatment, he contacted TSARO seeking clearance to return to full-capacity work. While the practice does not suggest that every patient will experience a similar outcome, the case illustrates how careful evaluation can identify an appropriate path toward meaningful recovery. This approach has earned it recognition as Top Musculoskeletal Care Practice 2026.

Dr. Thomas has also expanded access to orthopedic care through East Columbia Urgent Care & Orthopedics, founded in Battle Creek in 2025. The separate practice provides walk-in evaluation for acute orthopedic injuries and musculoskeletal concerns, with on-site X-ray, splinting, bracing, and diagnostic ultrasound.

TSARO’s distinction lies less in the number of procedures it offers than in knowing when each is appropriate. By keeping diagnosis, treatment, and patient goals connected, the practice continues to lead with a clear focus on individualized care and meaningful recovery.