Dr. Larry R. Padgett, MD

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Get to know Orthopedic Surgeon and Sports Medicine Specialist Dr. Larry R. Padgett, who serves patients in Winter Haven, Florida.

A skilled and experienced orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine specialist, Dr. Padgett sees patients at Advanced Orthopedic Surgery and Sports Medicine. His specialties include arthroscopic surgery, sports medicine, shoulder surgery, knee surgery, and elbow surgery.

Enjoying caring for athletes of all ages, Dr. Padgett consults as the team physician for many local high schools and Advanced Orthopedic Surgery provides athletic trainers for many of the high schools and their football programs.

Advanced Orthopedic Surgery offers a comprehensive range of specialized orthopedic services. The staff incorporates the clinical, educational, and investigational aspects of athletic injuries to treat athletes playing at the high school, college and professional levels, as well as recreational athletes from every age group.

The Orthopedic Team treats the full spectrum of orthopedic and injuries in children and adults, not only in organizational contexts such as high school, college, and professional athletics but in the care of recreational athletes, such as golf and tennis. More than 700 procedures are performed annually, including arthroscopic procedures on the knee, shoulder, elbow, and ankle.

With comprehensive athletic medical experience, Dr. Padgett is affiliated with multiple hospitals in Florida, including Winter Haven Hospital, Winter Haven Day Surgery Center, AdventHealth Heart of Florida, Orlando Regional Medical Center, St. Mary’s Medical Center, Florida Hospital Waterman, and Memorial Hospital West. He also holds the position of Team Physician for Florida Southern College, Webber International University and Warner University. 

In the past, he was Team Physician for the Cleveland Indians from 1998 through 2008, Team Physician for the Cypress Gardens Water Ski Team, Assistant Team Physician for the Pittsburgh Steelers, and Event Physician for the Women’s World Pro Ski Tour. And in 2006, he was the Major League Physician for the World Baseball Classic.

Academically, Dr. Padgett started his medical career by attending the University of North Carolina School of Medicine, which was followed by an internship and residency in orthopedic surgery at Mayo Clinic in 1997. Finally, he went on to complete a postgraduate fellowship in sports medicine, arthroscopy, and shoulder surgery at Orthopedic Research of Virginia with Dr. Richard Caspari in 1998.

Recognized as a leader in his field, the doctor is board-certified in orthopedic surgery by the American Board of Orthopedic Surgery (ABOS). The ABOS is an organization with the goal of establishing educational and professional standards for orthopedic residents and surgeons as well as evaluating the qualifications and competence of orthopedic surgeons.

With a focus on research and product development, Dr. Padgett has developed anterior cruciate ligament repair devices, as well as devices and techniques for shoulder and elbow arthroscopy.

Orthopedic surgery is the branch of surgery concerned with conditions involving the musculoskeletal system. Orthopedic surgeons use both surgical and non-surgical means to treat musculoskeletal trauma, spine diseases, sports injuries, degenerative diseases, infections, tumors, and congenital disorders.

Sports medicine is a branch of medicine that deals with physical fitness and the treatment and prevention of injuries related to sports and exercise. A sports medicine specialist can help with musculoskeletal pain or injuries of all kinds, including arthritis. They are experts in restoring the function of injured joints and lessening the pain. They can also coordinate with physical therapists to help patients develop a treatment program that works best.

With over three decades of experience, Dr. Padgett has been the recipient of various awards and honors, including Patients’ Choice Award (2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2020), Compassionate Doctor Recognition (2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2020), On-Time Doctor Award (2015, 2018, 2020), Patients’ Choice 5th Anniversary Award (2020) and Compassionate Doctor Award – 5 Year Honoree (2020).

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