Houston Methodist Orthopedics & Sports Medicine

Back in the game, without the knife when possible.

Double board-certified in sports medicine and family medicine. I use diagnostic ultrasound to see your injury in real time, then treat it with guided injections, orthobiologics and movement work, so you get back to your sport or your life as safely and quickly as possible.

Request an appointment Listen to the podcast

Program DirectorHouston Methodist Primary Care Sports Medicine Fellowship

HostBackTable Bone & Sports podcast

Team physicianRice University · Houston Ballet

MSK · LINEAR 12 MHzDEPTH 4.0 cm

PATELLAR TENDON · 4.2 mmGUIDED

01 · Learn

Where does it hurt?

Start with the part of your body that's giving you trouble. Each one has a plain-language summary of what I treat, and podcast episodes where I talk it through with surgeons, physical therapists and team physicians.

Knee

Arthritis, meniscus and ligament injuries, patellar tendon pain and cartilage damage. Most knees improve with a stepwise plan that starts with load, strength and bracing.

Listen & learnEP 114Exploring Osteochondral Allografts for Knee Injuries EP 108ACL Rehab: Protocols & Best Practices EP 101Lateral Knee Extra-Articular Tenodesis (LET)

Shoulder & elbow

Rotator cuff and biceps tendon problems, throwing injuries, tennis and golfer's elbow. Ultrasound shows the tendon while you move.

Listen & learnEP 117Upper Extremity Rehab: Key Concepts & Techniques EP 113Overuse Injuries: Causes, Diagnosis & Management

Hand & wrist

Sprains, tendon irritation, trigger finger and carpal tunnel symptoms. Some are handled in clinic with a guided injection.

Listen & learnEP 119The TOUCH Procedure: An Innovative Approach in Hand Surgery

Hip

Hip arthritis, bursitis, groin and hamstring injuries. When a joint is worn out, I help you decide whether replacement is the right next step.

Listen & learnEP 110Understanding Joint Arthroplasty: Techniques & Advances

Concussion

Head injuries in athletes of every age, with a graded return to school, work and sport through the Houston Methodist Concussion Center.

Listen & learnEP 111Best Practices for Concussion Care EP 116Understanding Cardiac Risks & Management in Sports Medicine

Tendons & healing

Stubborn tendon pain and overuse injuries that haven't healed with rest. Where PRP and other orthobiologics can help, and where they can't.

Listen & learnEP 102Understanding PRP & Orthobiologics for Musculoskeletal Medicine EP 115Understanding Platelet Poor Plasma in Orthobiologics EP 113Overuse Injuries: Causes, Diagnosis & Management

02 · Podcast

BackTable Bone & Sports

I host conversations with the people who treat athletes for a living: orthopedic surgeons, physical therapists, athletic trainers and sports medicine physicians. Each episode digs into one problem, from ACL rehab to concussion to PRP, and what the evidence actually says.

Latest · Episode 119 · Oct 20, 2026

The TOUCH Procedure: An Innovative Approach in Hand Surgery

with Dr. Daniel Torres & Dr. Jamie Alexander, hand surgeons, Houston Methodist

Apple Podcasts BackTable show page All episodes with Dr. Balle

03 · Approach

Surgery is the last rung, not the first.

Most knee pain gets better with a stepwise plan. This is the knee unloader protocol I teach physicians and fellows, and the order I follow with patients. We move up a rung only when the one below isn't enough.

Education & weight management

Understand the joint and lower the load it carries every day.

Foundation

NSAIDs / topical NSAIDs

Calm inflammation with the lightest effective option.

Medication

Structured physical therapy

Strength and mechanics, built around how you move.

Movement

Unloader bracing

Shift force away from the worn side of the knee.

Bracing

Injection therapy

Ultrasound-guided steroid, PRP or orthobiologic injections.

Guided

Surgical referral

When conservative care fails, a referral to the right surgeon.

If needed

Dr. Balle presenting his knee unloader protocol to a room of clinicians — Presenting the protocol at AMSSM, the American Medical Society for Sports Medicine.

Imaging

Diagnostic ultrasound

Real-time imaging in the exam room, so we see the tendon, ligament or joint as it moves.

Procedures

Guided injections

Ultrasound-guided and perineural injections placed exactly where the problem is.

Regenerative

PRP & orthobiologics

Injections that use your body's own healing factors, when the evidence supports them.

Injury

Fractures & sprains

Non-surgical fracture care, strains, sprains and acute sports injuries.

Performance

Biomechanics

Movement evaluation to find what caused the injury and keep it from coming back.

Athletes

Primary care for athletes

Care for active people of every age and level, from weekend runners to pros.

04 · For physicians

Training the next generation of sports medicine doctors.

Dr. Balle is Program Director of the Houston Methodist Primary Care Sports Medicine Fellowship in the Texas Medical Center, a one-year, ACGME-accredited program for family medicine physicians pursuing sports medicine.

Big-league exposureHouston Methodist is the official health care provider for the Houston Texans, Houston Astros and Rice Athletics. Fellows help with sideline care, training rooms, spring training and draft preparation.
Performing arts medicineCare for the Houston Ballet, Houston Symphony and Houston Grand Opera.
ProceduresUltrasound-guided procedures, orthobiologics and tenotomy, with time in the OR alongside orthopedic surgeons.
Community coverageA high school training room each week during football season, through an outreach program serving 98+ area schools.

Fellowship details & applying

Dr. Balle leading the Houston Methodist Primary Care Sports Medicine journal club — Journal club with faculty and fellows. Previously, Dr. Balle served as associate program director of the UAMS Northwest primary care sports medicine fellowship.

05 · Sidelines

On the sideline, in the wings

Team physician for athletes who perform for a living, and for the student athletes coming up behind them.

Rice UniversityTeam physician, Owls athletics

Houston BalletCare for professional dancers

St. Pius XHigh school team physician

Houston MarathonEvent medicine

Has also cared for athletes from the NFL, NBA, MLB and Olympic teams, and previously served as chief medical officer for University of Arkansas Athletics.

2008

Texas A&M University

B.S., Biomedical Science and Entomology

2014

St. George's University

M.D., with public health training in epidemiology

2017

Baylor College of Medicine

Residency, Family & Community Medicine

2018

UAMS Northwest

Fellowship, Primary Care Sports Medicine

06 · From Instagram

Teaching, talks and team life

Group photo of clinicians at the Enovis Hip and Knee OA Specialist Course

Guest speaker, Enovis Hip & Knee OA Specialist Course

Dr. Balle with fellow speakers at the AISM conference

Representing Rice at AISM

Dr. Balle and a former fellow on the field at the Seattle Mariners ballpark

Touring the Mariners facility with a former fellow

Follow along for talks, cases and sideline days.

Follow @larryballemd

07 · Speaking

Invite Dr. Balle to speak

Program Director of the Houston Methodist Primary Care Sports Medicine Fellowship and host of the BackTable Bone & Sports podcast. He speaks to physicians, athletic programs and community groups. Talks are tailored to your audience.

TALK 01

Ultrasound at the point of care

Why musculoskeletal ultrasound has changed how sports medicine diagnoses and treats. Live scanning, what to look for, and how to build the skill.

Hands-on workshop · CME · Residencies

TALK 02

Return to play: making the call

How to weigh imaging, exam, and the athlete’s goals when deciding who goes back, and when. Real cases from the sideline and clinic.

Keynote · Athletic departments · Team staff

TALK 03

Biologics and regenerative care: evidence over hype

What the research supports, what it doesn’t, and how to talk with patients about injections and newer options honestly.

Grand rounds · Conferences · Primary care

TALK 04

Concussion: first 72 hours

A clear, practical framework for sideline recognition, early management, and safe return for school and club programs.

Coaches · Schools · Community events

TALK 05

Teaching sports medicine in the podcast era

Lessons from hosting BackTable Bone & Sports and directing a fellowship: how doctors learn now, and how to teach well.

Keynote · Education meetings · Panels

TALK 06

Primary care sports medicine, done well

Practical pearls for non-surgical MSK care, from the knee to the shoulder, aimed at the clinician who sees these patients daily.

CME · Medical societies · Health systems

Have something else in mind? Topics can be adapted or combined for your event.

Audiences

Medical conferences and CME courses
Hospitals, residencies and fellowships
Schools, leagues and athletic departments
Teams, clubs and coaching staffs
Corporate wellness and community events

Formats

Keynote
Hands-on ultrasound workshop
Grand rounds and lectures
Panel or fireside chat
Webinar or virtual session
Podcast guest appearance

What to expect

A quick reply on availability
A short planning call about your audience and goals
A talk built around your outcomes
A resource page or handout for attendees
Follow-up after the event

Check availability

Tell us about the event: who is in the room, when and where, and what you want attendees to take away. You will hear back about availability and next steps.

Speaking requests are separate from patient care. To book a visit, see below.

08 · Visit

Book a visit

Accepting new patients at three Houston-area offices. Most major plans are accepted, including Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, UnitedHealthcare and Medicare Advantage. Check your plan when you call.

713.441.9000

Call Houston Methodist Orthopedics & Sports Medicine and ask for Dr. Balle.

Texas Medical Center

Outpatient Center, Suite 2500
6445 Main Street, Houston, TX 77030

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West Loop

5505 West Loop South
Houston, TX 77081

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Pearland

Suite 100, 8520 Broadway Street
Pearland, TX 77584

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