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t m c » p u l s e | a p r i l 2 0 1 5 17 E ach evening, the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo pits man vs. beast, as cow- boys and cowgirls urge their horses ever faster around barrels, rope steers, and try to stay astride buck- ing bulls that outweigh them ten- fold. Meanwhile, behind the scenes, a team of volunteer physicians, chiropractors, athletic trainers and physical therapists organized by official health care provider Houston Methodist stands ready. "Just because you manage to stay on the bull for eight seconds doesn't mean you didn't get some bumps and bruises along the way," said Patrick McCulloch, M.D., an orthopedic surgeon at Houston Methodist who has worked the rodeo for five years. "There are acute injuries that can happen during the rodeo events—we've seen fractured bones and dislocated joints, some pulled muscles. Often these are from a fall off a horse or off a bull. Sometimes they occur when a rider gets pinned between an animal and the railing or gate." If athletes are injured, they have access to some of the best medi- cal care they will see on the rodeo circuit. Houston Methodist orga- nizes two centers: a medical center for anyone who is feeling sick with a cold or the flu, and an orthopedic center, equipped to provide stitches, on-site X-rays, and the kind of treatment offered in any high-level athletic training facility. "I take care of the Houston Astros and Rice University, the Houston Ballet and NASA astronauts," said McCulloch. "When these people agree to come to Houston to help make the Houston rodeo experience so exciting for everyone, we want to provide them with the same level of care we would provide our own Houston team athletes." Starting a little over an hour before the rodeo events kick off each evening, the clinic buzzes with activity. Athletes file in for chiro- practic adjustments or to get knees, ankles and shoulders taped. They consult physicians regarding previ- ous injuries and get stretched and warmed up. Then it's out to the arena to perform for thousands of roaring fans. A medical team stands on the sidelines throughout the night, always prepared to spring to action. "Should someone get hurt in the arena, they will usually get up and run towards the side because, of course, at that point there may be a loose bull in the ring, and then we'll escort them back to the facilities," said McCulloch. The volunteer medical workers marveled over the fact that they do not see many serious injuries at RodeoHouston, a testament to the caliber of talent. The athletes com- pete in Houston by invitation only. Being some of the top competitors in the country means they know how to stay on the horse or the bull—and when to get off. "The guys are so highly skilled," said Timothy Sitter, M.D., a Houston Methodist orthopedic surgeon and lead orthopedic surgeon on the RodeoHouston sports medi- cine team who has volunteered at RodeoHouston for 20 years. "If they're getting into trouble, they'll bail out. AND At RodeoHouston, Texas Medical Center members are in the middle of the action, from patching up cowboys to giving young patients the thrill of a lifetime B y S h e a C o n n e l ly Last year, 498 patients visited the RodeoHouston clinic We're always on the edge of our seats. — JACE DUKE Manager of Athletic Training at Houston Methodist and Vice Chairman of the RodeoHouston Sports Medicine Committee Bareback rider Steven Peebles, left, is examined by Houston Methodist Athletic Trainer Jeff Collins.