OSS Provider Spotlight – Dr. Mark Reed

Dr. Mark Reed

Dr. Mark Reed is one of the many talented surgeons at Orthopedic Specialists of Seattle.

We had an opportunity to catch him from his busy schedule and find out some interesting and fun information about him.

1) Why did you choose Orthopedics with a specialty in foot and ankle?

I worked as a mechanical engineer and have always had a fascination for how complex mechanisms work. It doesn’t get much more complex than the foot and ankle.

Many bones, joints, tendons and ligaments all work in concert to support the foot and create motion. It’s simultaneously challenging and rewarding to treat foot and ankle conditions.

2) Why did you decided to move and settle in Seattle?

My family and I selected Seattle to put down roots for several reasons. Although my wife (an emergency physician) did our residency on the East Coast, we wanted to relocate to the West Coast so that we could be closer to her home state of Hawaii, which is not a bad place to visit during Seattle winters.

We love the healthy and active nature of the Pacific Northwest and the access to hiking, skiing, and all other sorts of endeavors.

3) Are you involved in the community?

With a one and three-year old, we don’t have a lot of free time, but when we do, we think it’s important to give back to the community. One of the things we do on a regular basis is to cook for and deliver meals to a homeless shelter in Seattle.

We also get involved in clean-up and beautification projects in our local community of west Seattle.

4) Have you been published, made any medical advances or studied new procedures?

Most of the research work I have done has been foot and ankle-related with a focus on biomechanics. I’ve looked at novel ways to perform ankle fusions and done studies comparing the strength and rigidity of various subtalar fusions.

I continue to stay active in the foot and ankle community to stay abreast of the latest technologies. Ankle replacement surgery and joint-sparing procedures for great toe arthritis are two areas that come to mind.

5) Who are you outside of work?

Outside of work I spend every minute I can with my wife and our two boys. I enjoy the outdoors; we try to get out and about a couple of times a month to experience the beauty of the Pacific Northwest. I’m a big supporter of the Seattle professional sports teams.

Read more about Dr. Reed

MLB World Series Injuries

Rounding the Bases to Catching Fly Balls

MLB World SeriesThe 2014 Major League World Series begins this week with a frenzy of predictions from the sports experts and fans from both the San Francisco Giants and the Kansas City Royals predicting that their respective team will win.

Baseball, a game routed in tradition, history, superstition and sometimes, injuries.

Common Injuries

baseball_gloveMore than 627,000 baseball injuries each year are treated by medical professionals, according to the U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission. Baseball is not a contact sport, but contact with a ball, bat, or another player results in the most serious injuries.

The most common injuries include repetitive use injuries to the shoulder and elbow, muscle pulls, contusions, ligament injuries, black eyes, concussions and lacerations. Knee injuries also are relatively common.

Some of these injuries can be career ending if severe enough, as joint replacement sometimes does not work well for athletes.

Your feet also take a beating when playing baseball. Baseball players are at risk from various injuries, including:

1. Ankle sprains may occur while running, fielding balls, stepping on or sliding into bases. Sprains should be evaluated by a foot and ankle surgeon to determine the extent of injury, including possible peroneal tendon injuries or fractures. The foot and ankle surgeon will develop a treatment plan: failure to fully treat and rehabilitate a sprain may lead to chronic ankle instability and recurrent sprains.

2. Overuse or excessive training may sideline some athletes with Achilles tendinopathy or heel pain (often plantar fasiciitis, or calcaneal apophysitis in children and adolescents).

3. Contusions may occur from impact with the ball or contact with other players.

4. Cleats may pose challenges in the forefoot and aggravation of neuromas, sesamoids, bunions, and hammertoes. To stay at the top of your game, ensure that cleats are fitted properly and have injuries evaluated by a foot and ankle surgeon.

According to Dr. Reed, “While baseball is a less violent sport than football, athletes can be prone to foot and ankle injuries often due to the quick bursts of required running or sliding. Orthopedic foot and ankle surgeons are uniquely trained to provide expert care of baseball-related injuries, including turf toe, osteochondral defects, ankle instability and Achilles tendinitis or rupture.”

Good luck to both the Giants and the Royals! Here’s hoping no one gets put on the DL list during the series!

If you believe you are suffering from a sports-related injury and need specialized care, the physicians at Orthopedic Specialists of Seattle provide excellent treatment options available for you. Please feel free to contact OSS at (206) 633-8100 to schedule an appointment.

Reduce Your Chances for Injury While on the Football Field

Week four of the Seattle Seahawks football season has taken a few hits. Eight players are on this week’s injury list. It’s a reminder to both professional and non-professional athletes that playing smart is the best way to reduce your chances of injury in this contact sport.

The 8 Most Common Football Injuries:Football Helmets

Not including head injuries, the most common musculoskeletal injuries include:

1) ACL injuries – The anterior cruciate ligament in the knee can become damaged or torn when a player is impacted from the front or rear.
2) MCL injuries – Injury to the medial collateral ligament in the knee is also very common because it occurs when the knee is impacted from the side.
3) Torn meniscus – When a player rotates their body while a foot stays planted, the knee can twist, causing the meniscus to tear.
4) Ankle sprains and strains – Perhaps the most common injury in all sports, ankles are susceptible to soft tissue damage when pivoting, changing direction, or putting too much pressure on the joint.
5) Muscle contusions – A strong impact to a large muscle, usually in the thigh, can cause a contusion. This is basically a large, deep bruise that can impair muscle function.
6) Torn hamstrings – Bursts of speed can cause the hamstrings to tear if the player is not conditioned or properly warmed up.
7) Shoulder tendinitis – Frequent throwing can cause overuse injuries like shoulder tendinitis from repetitive motions.
8) Shoulder separation or dislocation – A direct blow below the shoulder can cause a separation of the acromioclavicular joint, while a dislocation occurs when the head of the humerus detaches from the scapula.

The treatment protocol for these football injuries varies and can range from basic RICE (rest, ice, compression, elevation) to surgery, with several options in between. For all of these injuries, RICE can be improved with active cold and compression therapies to help speed up the healing process for injuries. Cold compression therapy can also be used after surgery to help speed up the recovery process.

According to Dr. Peterson, “While injuries are an unavoidable consequence of contact sports, indeed any sport, the risk of injury can be dramatically lowered by proper background training and techniques. Additionally, proper conditioning can speed recovery times after injury reduce the chance of recurrent injury.”

Here are some helpful tips on how you can reduce your chances of a football injury:

-Have a pre-season health and wellness evaluation
-Perform proper warm-up and cool-down routines
-Consistently incorporate strength training and stretching
-Hydrate adequately to maintain health and minimize cramps
-Stay active during summer break to prepare for return to sports in the fall
-Wear properly fitted protective equipment, such as a helmet, pads, and mouthguard
-Tackle with the head up and do not lead with the helmet
-Speak to a sports medicine professional at OSS if you have any concerns about football injuries or football injury prevention strategies

If you believe you are suffering from a sports-related injury and need specialized orthopedic care, the orthopedic surgeons at OSS provide excellent treatment options for your injury. Please feel free to contact OSS at (206) 633-8100 to schedule an appointment.