Medicine. Innovation. Healthy Living. Generosity.
Medicine, life, and a few unsolicited opinions from the pickleball court.
Reading the signals — what that ache really means, which braces help, and which injections are worth it.
Professional athletes swear by hyperbaric oxygen chambers. Dr. Engasser explains what pressurized oxygen actually does, why the evidence for common pickleball injuries is thin, why Medicare won't pay for it, and what to do instead.
Read More →— Mark C. Engasser, MD
Power, control, weight, and the search for a happier forearm. Dr. Engasser examines paddle weight, swing weight, thickness, vibration, and grip size through an orthopedic lens — and explains why the best test isn't three swings in a store but an hour of actual play.
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Your knee hurts, but could the problem actually be your hip? Or could that aching hip and painful leg be coming from your lower back? Dr. Engasser explains referred pain, hip arthritis, spinal stenosis, and why finding the true source of pain is essential before considering injections or surgery.
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Cortisone shots can relieve pain quickly. PRP promises to harness the body's healing response—but often at a substantial cost. Which works better for arthritis, tennis elbow, rotator cuff problems, and other common pickleball injuries? Dr. Engasser explains the benefits, risks, tendon rupture concerns, and costs of each treatment.
Read More →— Mark C. Engasser, MD
Take a look around any public pickleball court these days and you'll count more knee braces than paddles. Hinged ones, sleeved ones, strapped ones — and at least one worn over street pants as a bold fashion statement. Does all that support hardware actually help? And more importantly, should the scoreboard reward it? I have thoughts. Some of them are even medical.
Read More →— Mark C. Engasser, MD
Artificial intelligence, genetic risk, and the research steadily stretching both lifespan and healthspan.
Artificial intelligence is moving from promising predictions to real patient results. Dr. Engasser reviews two recent developments — an AI-assisted drug showing early promise against a hereditary colon-cancer condition, and AI that spots aortic valve calcification on routine chest CT scans — and explains why larger clinical trials are the critical next step.
Read More →— Mark C. Engasser, MD
When several family members develop cancer, is it coincidence or an inherited genetic predisposition? Dr. Engasser explores hereditary cancer risk, genetic testing, early screening, and the exciting possibilities of blood-based cancer detection and gene editing. A little knowledge about your family history might make a lifesaving difference.
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Practical, plain-spoken guidance for everyday health — at home and on the road.
From Gatorade and Powerade to powders and packets — do we really need electrolyte drinks? Dr. Engasser examines sodium, sugar, and hydration with humor, the story of his uncle's violin case and salt pills, and a look at when water is simply enough.
Read More →— Mark C. Engasser, MD
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 →— Mark C. Engasser, MD
Doctors spend their careers asking patients how they feel. Sometimes the harder question is the one they need to ask themselves. Dr. Engasser reflects on physician burnout — why it matters to patients, what the latest AMA numbers show, and what actually helps.
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The Copenhagen City Heart Study linked racket sports to nearly a decade of extra life. A 2026 randomized trial showed real functional gains in older adults with pre-frailty. But what does the science actually prove — and what's the difference between living longer and living better? Dr. Engasser examines the evidence honestly.
Read More →— Mark C. Engasser, MD
Do you really need an expensive emergency medication kit for your next cruise? Drawing on recent travels through the Panama Canal and Europe, Dr. Engasser takes a humorous look at what belongs in a practical travel medical kit, which prescriptions might be useful, and why more pills don't necessarily mean better preparation.
Read More →— Mark C. Engasser, MD
Reflections on giving, legacy, and making the extra years matter.
How much good is your charitable dollar actually doing? Dr. Engasser tours the community organizations of Minnesota, Naples, and Buffalo — from Phillips Neighborhood Clinic and HCMC to Dunwoody, Lorenzo Walker, and St. Matthew's House — and shares five questions worth asking before any significant donation.
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Dr. Engasser trained at the old Minneapolis General Hospital in 1975 and helped welcome the new Hennepin County Medical Center in 1976. Nearly fifty years later, he reflects on a residents' photograph worth a thousand memories — and why this Level I trauma center belongs to all of Minnesota.
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Our parents were the Greatest Generation. Could Baby Boomers become the Generous Generation? Dr. Engasser reflects on the historic transfer of wealth, the growing gap between the haves and have-nots, and how generosity with our money, time, and experience could become our generation's greatest legacy.
Read More →— Mark C. Engasser, MD
Picking the right surgeon, asking the right questions, and owning the decision.
Need a knee or hip replacement — or dreading that rotator cuff repair? Dr. Engasser shares the questions worth asking before surgery, why the surgeon matters far more than the implant brand on TV or the approach your golf buddy had, and why a second opinion is never an insult.
Read More →— Mark C. Engasser, MD