Dr. Joseph Humphries, an orthopedic surgeon specializing in sports medicine and joint preservation with Monument Health, doesn’t see game day the way most fans do.
While the crowd watches the scoreboard, he’s watching bodies move. How an athlete cuts. How they land. How they warm up. And whether they’re safe to be there at all.
“I actually don’t want athletes to know me,” Dr. Humphries said with a smile. “When they see me, usually something bad is going on.”
That mindset says a lot about how sports medicine works behind the scenes, especially for college athletes in Rapid City.
More Than a Doctor on the Sideline
At South Dakota Mines home football games, NCAA policy requires a physician on the sidelines. But Dr. Humphries says that’s only a small piece of the puzzle.
“We want to cover everything,” he said. “Surgical care, primary care, training staff, nutrition, mental performance, mental health, strength and conditioning. The goal is to help athletes perform at the highest level possible.”
That team-based approach mirrors what you’d see at large Division I programs.
“We wanted to bring that SEC-level feel to this community,” Dr. Humphries said. “That’s what these athletes deserve.”
Why Early Evaluation Matters
Every incoming Mines athlete goes through a full medical and orthopedic evaluation. Not because they’re injured, but because prevention matters.
“We’re looking for risk factors,” Dr. Humphries said. “Things that could lead to future injury if we don’t catch them early.”
He shared the story of a freshman athlete with a stress fracture that wouldn’t heal.
“We looked beyond the bone,” he said. “Nutrition, calories, protein, training load. Once we addressed that, he improved. He’s running again now.”
For athletes, small gaps in nutrition or recovery can turn into major setbacks. Catching them early can save an entire season.
The Mental Side of Sports Is Not Optional
One of the most overlooked aspects of athlete health is mental health. Dr. Humphries sees it daily.
“You’re a freshman, away from home, at a demanding engineering school, playing a collision sport,” he said. “That’s a lot of pressure.”
The program separates mental performance from mental health, and both matter.
“Mental performance is confidence, preparation, mindset,” he said. “Mental health is stress, anxiety, depression. If either one is off, performance and life suffer.”
That support extends beyond athletes and into the broader student body, but athletes often feel the pressure first.
Communication Keeps Athletes Moving Forward
When injuries happen, communication becomes everything.
“We involve parents whenever possible,” Dr. Humphries said. “Mom and dad need to feel confident too.”
That communication extends to coaches and professors as well.
“If an athlete needs modified academics during recovery, we work with faculty,” he said. “That relationship makes all the difference.”
The goal is never to rush someone back.
“Every injured athlete goes through return-to-sport testing,” Dr. Humphries said. “Thirty evidence-based tests. If they can’t perform safely, they’re not going back yet.”
Coaches may not love it, but athletes stay healthier in the long run.
Technology Is Changing Sports Medicine
Dr. Humphries is clear. New technology only matters if it improves outcomes.
One advancement is patient-specific instrumentation.
“We design surgical tools specifically for that athlete’s anatomy,” he said. “Not guessing. Perfect fit.”
Hip preservation, meniscus repair, and limb alignment technology are also changing how injuries are treated, especially for young athletes who want long careers.
“We’re careful,” he said. “But we’re always asking, what’s the next step that actually helps?”
Injury Prevention Starts Before the Injury
Not all prevention happens in an operating room.
“Preseason training programs reduce ACL injuries,” Dr. Humphries said. “That data came out of soccer, and we’ve implemented it here.”
Strength, conditioning, proper movement, and recovery all lower risk.
“You can’t eliminate injury,” he said. “But you can reduce it.”
What Success Really Looks Like
For Dr. Humphries, success isn’t only wins and losses.
“It’s fast access to care,” he said. “High-level ability. And relationships.”
He calls it the three A’s.
“Available. Ability. Affable.”
Athletes are seen quickly. Care is fellowship-trained and experience-based. And relationships stay human.
“We treat every athlete like they’re going pro,” he said. “Even if they don’t, that level of care matters.”
The Bigger Picture for Families
For parents watching from the stands, it’s easy to focus on the hit that just happened. Dr. Humphries wants them to know there’s a full system working quietly behind the scenes.
“The goal is always the same,” he said. “Return to the same level or better. As quickly and as safely as possible.”
And sometimes, athletes come back stronger.
“I’ve seen it over and over,” he said. “Injuries don’t have to be the end of the story.”
They can be the start of better care, smarter training, and longer careers.
