Doctor Pickleball

Medicine. Innovation. Healthy Living. Generosity.

Expert Orthopedic and hippocratic Advice For All Pickleball Athletes and most humans

Welcome to
Doctor Pickleball!

Mark C. Engasser, MD — Board-Certified Orthopedic Surgeon with over 46 years of surgical and medical experience treating athletic injuries and orthopedic conditions.

Mark C. Engasser, MD — Doctor Pickleball

What's on Tap Today?

A Message from Dr. Pickleball

Thursday, November 12, 2026

A Final Thought on Veterans Day — Before We Get Back to Pickleball and Aching Knees

I've received a wonderful amount of feedback following my Veterans Day tribute, including personal stories from those who served and from families whose loved ones served our country.

I sincerely appreciate everyone who took the time to share these experiences. Many of these stories remind me of my own father and a generation that quietly served, sacrificed, and rarely sought recognition.

My hope is that we remember these heroes not just on Veterans Day, but throughout the year.

And perhaps the best way to honor them is to follow their example in our own lives through three simple values:

Honor. Honesty. Humility.

Do what's right, take responsibility, serve others, and don't feel compelled to tell the world how wonderful you are.

As the saying goes, “Act like you've been there before.”

Thank you again for sharing your stories. Please keep them coming.

And now, speaking of those who have carried a heavy load, let's talk about our knees!

Dr. Pickleball

Bone on bone? Don't schedule that knee replacement just yet!

Today I examine new weight-loss medications, unloading braces, the often-forgotten kneecap, and why your X-ray doesn't get to decide when you need surgery.

Medical science with a little humor—and a lot of common sense.

Today's featured reflection is: “The Knee Bone's Connected to the Belly Bone!”

Read Today's Musing

Today's Featured Musing

The Knee Bone's Connected to the Belly Bone!

Bone on bone? Don't schedule that knee replacement just yet! Today I examine new weight-loss medications, unloading braces, the often-forgotten kneecap, and why your X-ray doesn't get to decide when you need surgery. Medical science with a little humor—and a lot of common sense.

Mark C. Engasser, MD · Board-Certified Orthopedic Surgeon

Read the Full Musing

Recently on Tap

The Fathers Who Came Home—and Those Who Never Did

The stories you shared about your fathers' wartime service reminded me that some never came home—and others returned carrying wounds that their families would live with for decades.

A Veterans Day Salute: My Father’s Quiet Service

This Veterans Day, Dr. Engasser remembers his father’s quiet service in World War II and reflects on the courage, hard work, humility, and sacrifices of the veterans who helped shape America.

To Repair, Replace, or Reverse? That Is the Shoulder Question!

Rotator cuff repair, anatomic replacement, or reverse replacement — the right answer depends entirely on the shoulder in question. Dr. Engasser compares all three operations with a new infographic: three different shoulders, three different problems, three different operations!

Sometimes It Takes a Reverse to Move Your Shoulder—and Your Pickleball Game—Forward!

Putting the ball where the socket used to be and the socket where the ball used to be sounds like a mistake. Today we look at why it's actually one of orthopedic surgery's most ingenious operations — and the first step back onto the court for players whose rotator cuff can no longer lift the arm.

Wherever We Cruise, We Need Pickleball to Amuse!

From a homemade pickleball court aboard a Norwegian cruise to battling ocean winds on the Nieuw Amsterdam, Nancy and I have discovered that some of the best cruise memories aren't made in port. They're made on the pickleball court!

Three musings, one goal: Keep moving, stay strong, and enjoy the game—and everything else life has to offer.

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The Hedge Fund Manager

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The Latest from Dr. Pickleball's Musings

Musings Index Browse by Topic

A little medicine, a little humor, and a few thoughts on living—and playing—well.

Catch Your Eye? Take a Look.

  1. The Knee Bone's Connected to the Belly Bone!Newest
  2. The Fathers Who Came Home—and Those Who Never Did
  3. A Veterans Day Salute: My Father’s Quiet Service
  4. To Repair, Replace, or Reverse? That Is the Shoulder Question!
  5. Sometimes It Takes a Reverse to Move Your Shoulder—and Your Pickleball Game—Forward!
  6. Wherever We Cruise, We Need Pickleball to Amuse!
  7. Electrolytes: Is Sodium Something I Need More Of, or Just Something I Put on My Steak?
  8. Sarcopenia: The Italian Island That Stole My Muscles
  9. Making Your Charitable Dollar Work Overtime: Because Even Your Money Deserves a Good Workout
  10. HCMC: A County Name, a Statewide Mission, and a Hospital Worth Saving
Explore All Dr. Pickleball's Musings.
4 min readLatest

The Fathers Who Came Home—and Those Who Never Did

A follow-up to his Veterans Day tribute: after readers shared remarkable stories of their fathers' military service, Dr. Engasser reflects on the families who sacrificed at home, the fathers who came home changed, and those who never came back.

Read More →

— Mark C. Engasser, MD

To Repair, Replace, or Reverse? That Is the Shoulder Question!

Rotator cuff repair, anatomic shoulder replacement, or reverse shoulder replacement — which operation fits which shoulder? Dr. Engasser compares the three with a new infographic and shares a personal perspective: two different shoulders, two different operations, and two great results!

Read More →

Wherever We Cruise, We Need Pickleball to Amuse!

From homemade pickleball courts on a Norwegian cruise to battling ocean winds on the Nieuw Amsterdam, Nancy and I have discovered that the best cruise memories aren’t always made in port. Sometimes they’re made on the court!

Read More →

Sarcopenia: The Italian Island That Stole My Muscles

It sounds like a charming Mediterranean island, but sarcopenia is the gradual loss of muscle strength and mass that can come with age. Dr. Engasser explains why muscles fade, how resistance training and adequate protein help, and why even regular pickleball players benefit from dedicated strength work.

Read More →
See All Musings →

Explore Doctor Pickleball

Orthopedics & Pickleball

Orthopedic conditions, pickleball injuries, sports medicine, injury prevention, and maintaining mobility — practical guidance from an experienced orthopedic surgeon.

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Medical AI & Breakthroughs

Artificial intelligence in medicine, AI drug discovery, cancer research, diagnostics, and clinical trials — exploring how technology is transforming healthcare.

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Longevity & Healthy Aging

Healthy aging, exercise, strength, independence, and emerging research into extending healthy lifespan — science-based insights for adults who want to stay active longer.

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"The Longer You Live, the Longer You Will Live."

Could artificial intelligence and medical breakthroughs help today's adults over 50 live longer, healthier lives? Doctor Pickleball explores the science, the possibilities, and the limitations of emerging medical discoveries.

Doctor Pickleball on Orthopedic Injuries

Pickleball injuries in the mature athlete run the gamut from ankle sprains to ACL tears, low back sprains to rotator cuff injuries. Many problems are nagging issues that do not prevent you from playing, but need a little help.

This website is a source for common sense information about frequent pickleball injuries and conditions. It also provides practical advice such as ways to prevent injury, when to see a doctor, have an MRI, or even consider surgery.

We want your OMG moment to mean "One More Game" versus a surprise "Oh My Gosh!" response to an unexpected physical problem that might have been minimized or prevented.

Dr. Engasser on the pickleball court

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Mark C. Engasser, MD
Board-Certified Orthopedic Surgeon

Mark C. Engasser, MD

Dr. Engasser has over 46 years of surgical and medical experience in treating athletic injuries and orthopedic conditions.

As an avid pickleball player himself, he brings both clinical expertise and firsthand experience to his advice for the pickleball community.

46+ Years of Orthopedic Experience
Orthopedic Surgeon
Grandfather of 8
Pickleball Athlete