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Dr. Spencer E. Richards, MD

Bio

I am a sports medicine doctor practicing in Salt Lake City and Bountiful, Utah, and I am a member of the Intermountain Sports Medicine Specialty Group. I specialize in non-surgical treatment of muscle, joint, and bone issues. I have expertise in treating issues specific to active people and in helping prevent issues through proper movement mechanics, strength training, nutrition and post-injury return-to-play guidance.

I am the team physician for the West High School football team. I have been the past team physician for Brigham Young University and Utah Valley University, U.S. Speedskating World Championships, Ford Ironman World Championships, U.S. National Cross Country Championships, Utah Ironman Sprint and Olympic Triathlon, NBA Rocky Mountain Review, and U.S.A. Collegiate Rugby National Championships.

I was born and raised in Salt Lake City and love being in Utah. I especially enjoy the mountains (backcountry skiing and hiking) and the roads (running, cycling and triathlons). My wife Molly is a Bountiful native, an active runner, and triathlete. She is a professional home organizer and together we have five wonderful children: Cort, Macy, Caleb, and the twins, Jake and Emmy. As a family, we enjoy being outdoors, running, skiing, hiking, traveling, playing sports, and reading great books.

Specialties:

Affiliation:

  • Intermountain Healthcare

Location:

Group Memberships:

Activity

  • Sharecare News
    Sharecare News posted a story about Sports Medicine:
    Focus on One Sport Raises Young Athletes' Injury Risk: Study

    FRIDAY, April 19 (HealthDay News) -- Young athletes who train intensely for one sport are at greatly increased risk for severe overuse injuries such as stress fractures, a new study finds.

    For example, children and teens who play a sport for more hours per week than their age -- such as a...Full Article

  • Josh Barocas
    Josh Barocas is now following Spencer E. Richards, MD
  • Sharecare News
    Sharecare News posted a story about Sports Medicine:
    Olympic Medalists May Also Claim 'Survival Advantage'

    FRIDAY, Dec. 14 (HealthDay News) -- Olympic medal winners live longer than people in the general population, but athletes who do high- or moderate-intensity sports have no survival advantage over those who do low-intensity activities such as golf, according to two new studies.

    In one stud...Full Article

  • Sharecare News
    Sharecare News posted a story about Sports Medicine:
    Cardiac Screening for All Young Athletes Carries Big Price Tag: Study

    MONDAY, Nov. 26 (HealthDay News) -- A new study suggests it would be wildly expensive -- more than $10 million per life saved -- to require American high school and college athletes to undergo heart testing to weed out those at risk for fatal cardiac complications from playing sports.

    Th...Full Article

  • Sharecare News
    Sharecare News posted a story about Sports Medicine:
    Too Much or Too Little Activity Can Spur Knee Problems

    MONDAY, Nov. 26 (HealthDay News) -- For middle-aged adults trying to protect their knee health, it may be best to avoid extreme ends of the exercise spectrum, such as too much high-impact exercise or too little physical activity, researchers have found.

    While p...Full Article

  • Sharecare News
    Sharecare News posted a story about Sports Medicine:
    Consistent Criteria for Sports Concussion Might Aid Diagnosis

    FRIDAY, Oct. 12 (HealthDay News) -- Standards used to diagnose concussion in college athletes are inconsistent and require clearer definitions and better tools to make the diagnosis, researchers report.

    Their five-year study included 450 male and female athletes who played on football and...Full Article

  • Spencer E. Richards, MD
    Spencer E. Richards, MD of Intermountain Healthcare answered:
    How effective are trigger point injections in relieving pain?
    Trigger point injections have been found to be very effective in relieving pain, especially when combined with exercise and medication. For many patients, the pain will go away and not return. For some, the pain will decrease but not go away entirely. In this case, your doctor may recommend another...  Full Post
  • Spencer E. Richards, MD
    Spencer E. Richards, MD of Intermountain Healthcare answered:
    What happens during a trigger point injection procedure?

    Trigger point injections can be done in a doctor's office. The actual injection takes only a few minutes, but plan on 30 to 60 minutes for the whole procedure. You will remain awake and able to communicate the entire time. These steps will be part of your procedure:

    • Position. Depending on
    ...  Full Post
  • Spencer E. Richards, MD
    Spencer E. Richards, MD of Intermountain Healthcare answered:
    What are trigger point injections (TPI)?
    A trigger point injection is an injection (shot) into a painful area of muscle. Normal muscles tighten and relax as you use them. A trigger point is a tight knot or band of muscle that forms when a muscle will not relax. They can be very painful. An injection into the trigger point can help...  Full Post
  • Spencer E. Richards, MD
    Spencer E. Richards, MD of Intermountain Healthcare answered:
    How do I improve my running speed?
    Running speed comes from a variety of factors, but there are three main components: VO2max, lactate threshold, and running economy. VO2max is a measure of how well your body gets and uses oxygen. Lactate threshold marks the point of running when lactate starts to accumulate in your muscles leading...  Full Post
  • Spencer E. Richards, MD
    Spencer E. Richards, MD of Intermountain Healthcare answered:
    How do minimalist shoes differ from barefoot running shoes?

    Barefoot shoes try to exactly mirror the contour of the foot, whereas minimalist shoes provide a low level of padding but minimize the lift on the heel and allow a more natural foot strike. The benefit of minimalist shoes over barefoot shoes is the padding helps protect the foot (skin, bones) and

    ...  Full Post
  • Spencer E. Richards, MD
    Spencer E. Richards, MD of Intermountain Healthcare answered:
    How can lactate testing be helpful when designing an exercise program?

    The main benefit of knowing your lactate threshold is in helping design personalized training plans. When getting tested, we take small samples of blood while you exercise and measure the amount of lactic acid. Then we can see when the lactic acid starts to increase. We keep track of how fast you're

    ...  Full Post
  • Spencer E. Richards, MD
    Spencer E. Richards, MD of Intermountain Healthcare answered:
    Are Zumba and Insanity effective workout programs?

    Zumba is incredibly popular right now, because it's fun, energetic, loud and readily available. I think it is a great way to increase strength, cardiopulmonary endurance and health. It tends to be low-risk for injuries as well.

    Insanity is a high-intensity type workout, so it carries a higher injury

    ...  Full Post
  • Spencer E. Richards, MD
    Spencer E. Richards, MD of Intermountain Healthcare answered:
    What are good exercises for sciatic pain caused by a herniated disc?

    Sciatica can be very frustrating. Core strengthening is a key to help stabilize the spine and decrease the compression on your herniated discs. We recommend starting with "isometric" exercises, such as planks, and gentle stretching. With time, medications, and proper strengthening most of these cases

    ...  Full Post
  • Spencer E. Richards, MD
    Spencer E. Richards, MD of Intermountain Healthcare answered:
    What are some popular fitness trends for 2012?

    A "hot" fitness trend for 2012 is something called "functional fitness." This involves using regular, day-to-day movements such as reaching, stooping, bending, etc to improve balance, coordination and strength. It’s very helpful especially for middle-aged people or those who are a little older.

    Also,

    ...  Full Post