The Bell Sports Medicine Institute is a state-of-the-art orthopedic surgery practice dedicated to excellence in the treatment of sports injuries. The practice offers evaluation and surgical treatment for orthopedic injuries, and also has a physical therapy department with a full-time physical therapist. President and Medical Director David M. Bell, M.D. and his staff are committed to getting injured patients back to their active lifestyles.

“We consistently provide excellent evaluation and treatment of bone and joint injuries,” says Dr. Bell. “We deliver that care with exceptional patient service to all patients. Our Core Values are SPORTS: State-of-the-art surgical techniques, Patients first, Outstanding service, Recover quickly, Technology to deliver efficient care, and Serving our area for health and fitness. We focus on minimally invasive, outpatient arthroscopic surgeries of the shoulder, knee, elbow, and ankle. Our surgical techniques have minimal pain, rapid recovery, and good long-term functional results to keep our patients active.”

Dr. Bell and his patients clearly love sports, which is obvious at his clinic. Instead of a waiting room, there is a “warm-up area” and sports channels and old sports movies play on flat screen TVs there. Each examination room has a specific sport theme that changes according to season. At any given appointment, a patient might be seen in the basketball room, football room, skiing room, or golf room.

The clinic’s website hosts a variety of patient education material, including information on specific surgeries as well as advice on how young softball and baseball players can avoid injuries. “Injuries in young athletes are on the rise, but elbow and shoulder injuries in children are on the verge of becoming an epidemic,” according to the clinic’s handout on throwing injuries. “Thousands of children are seen each year complaining of elbow or shoulder pain.” Tips to athletes on avoiding those injuries include warming up properly before a game “by stretching, running, and easy, gradual throwing; rotating playing other positions besides pitcher;” and “concentrating on age-appropriate pitching. Nolan Ryan didn’t start pitching until he was in high school.”

San Francisco Magazine has named Dr. Bell as one of the top orthopedic surgeons in the Bay Area for 10 straight years, most recently in its 2024 issue on Bay Area Top Doctors. The magazine draws on the research done by Castle Connolly Top Doctors, a roster that represents the top 7% of all U.S. practicing physicians. Castle Connolly Top Doctors are peer-nominated, and thoroughly vetted by a physician-led research team. As a fellowship trained, board-certified orthopedic surgeon, he has been a specialist in sports medicine for more than 25 years. In January 2006, Dr. Bell started Bell Sports Medicine Institute in Pleasanton, where he and his family live.

Through his business, Dr. Bell has supported the Pleasanton Little League as well as the Rage and Ballistic Soccer clubs and performed preparticipation physicals for local school sports programs. He serves as the team physician for the Las Positas College Hawks, and has served as team physician for the California State University East Bay Pioneers and Ohlone College Renegades.

Bell Sports Medicine Institute moved to the Hacienda Medical Center in September 2015. Dr. Bell performs outpatient orthopedic surgeries at the Hacienda Surgery Center across the street from his practice as well as at Stanford TriValley Hospital. He has been performing surgeries at the Hacienda Surgery Center since 2010.

For more information about Bell Sports Medicine Institute, please visit www.bellsportmed.com or call (925) 600-7020.