The team physicians from UConn Health help maximize performance, prevent injuries, and get UConn athletes back on the field or court after illness or injury
Alex Honig, UConn Football (Photo Credit UConn Athletics)
Like most children in Germany, Alex Honig played soccer, but he fell in love with football. Following in the footsteps of his father, who played football in Germany, he moved onto flag football, then tackle around age 13. He was rated the No. 1 quarterback and overall player in Germany, and excelled for the Schwäbisch Hall Unicorns, one of the top American football youth teams in Germany.
His college career started at Texas Christian University (TCU) and in 2023 he transferred to UConn. He played tight end in the first two games of the 2023 season before he suffered an injury during a routine block at Georgia State, costing him the rest of the season.
Dr. Robert Arciero, Sports Medicine Division chief in UConn Health's Department of Orthopedic Surgery and head orthopedic team physician at UConn, saw Honig when the team returned.
"It was obvious on the physical exam that Honig tore the ligament holding the kneecap," Arciero says. "He's a big man and plays in a rough sport, where you hit people on purpose, so it became obvious, to get him back and have him not have a recurrent dislocating patella, that we needed to fix it by repairing the ligament. And in his case, augmenting it with a graph to make it stronger."
The team physicians from UConn Health help maximize performance, prevent injuries and get UConn athletes back on the field or court after illness or injury.
Arciero explains that every individual athlete gets the same level of care, which includes a topflight training staff at UConn, where trainers are with the athletes every time they are on the court or field. When they get injured, the team physicians are on speed dial. In Storrs, the team physicians see the athletes once a week and are able to see an athlete within hours of an injury. At UConn Health, advanced imaging capabilities enable prompt MRIs and CT scans.
"Frankly our surgery center has some of the most experienced anesthesiologists, surgical techs, nurses, and staff, which is why I bring my athletes here," says Arciero " because I know I am going to give them the best shot I can. It all comes from a mindset and dedication, but then having all these pieces in place that can respond make it top notch.
"We get many people back to being active, but getting athletes back to the elite level at the same professional level is the thing that drives us."
If you play sports, you are potentially going to get hurt. The team physicians rapidly evaluate, diagnose and put treatment into place whether it is nonsurgical, rehabilitative, or in-depth surgery.
"The goal: They are happy and can return to their sport at the same level," Arciero says. "That's the key."
When Honig was taken out of the game, he realized he had a long road to recovery.
"Dr. Arciero walked me through the injury and laid out what I needed to recover," says Honig. "I never had surgery before, and he was really good at explaining everything to me, including the surgery and the recovery process."
"You have a discussion. Some people would argue that you can fix this without an operation, and that would be applicable to someone who is sedentary, where you let the ligament try to heal on his own, but this does not define Alex, who works out every day and plays a collision sport. So, it became a discussion with him. I told him we could choose not to operate on it, but if we chose that route, it would become a recurrent problem," explains Arciero.
Trust is crucial for team physicians and athletes, and in addition to reputation, Arciero says the other part of trust is face time.
"Being with the team, showing up early on a travel flight, talking to the kids and coaches, and balancing that with being like paint on the wall, because no one likes the team doctor," Arciero says. "We are like the grim reaper: We usually have bad news, and the only time we have good news is when we tell them they can go back to play.
"It's important to talk to them about their problems, they are pretty smart, they have a lot of resources, and they will challenge you, but you need to sit with them, look them in the eye and answer their questions, and really make an effort that they understand - that's how you build trust. You also have to be able to bring the goods and have good outcomes."
According to Honig, the first few days were tough. Using crutches, sleeping and moving around were hard. He had to relearn how to walk, and the rehab was different from what he was used to when working out with heavy weights.
Honig says he had lots of support, listened to his body and talked with the doctors regularly, including weekly check-ins with Arciero to make sure rehab was going well. Honig found it easy to set goals and work toward them.
"It's scary, but following the guiding hands of the doctors and the trainers who have been here before and are supportive, their confidence is contagious, and you trust them," says Honig.
He adds: "Football is unique: you practice and prepare all year and have 12 chances to play the game after preparing all year. It was important for me to find a way to support the team while focusing on rehab."
By January he felt confident running again. By spring practice in March, he was cleared to practice and play in the spring game while wearing a brace.
"It felt good and got the excitement going again. Personally, I feel like I have developed and changed my perspective," says Honig.
Honig is back on the field, playing well in what has become an exciting season for the football team. He feels faster and stronger this season.
"Nothing makes me happier to see the player back on the field, when you see them on the sideline coming back after an injury and they say, 'It's all you, doc.' That's all I need," says Arciero. "That's what keeps a sports physician taking care of athletes."
UConn Health Orthopedics and Sports Medicine has a long tradition of providing medical care for the UConn Huskies, professional sports teams, and other organizations, and is proud to help keep some of the world's top athletes on the field, on the court, and in the game.
And the best news? You don't have to be a Husky to be seen by a Husky. UConn Health believes that everyone deserves world-class orthopedic care whether you're an elite athlete, weekend warrior, or you hurt your shoulder while mowing the lawn.
