Sean Baran, MD

02/25/2026

I recently spoke with 9NEWS about the serious injuries from the crash involving Lindsey Vonn and the medical realities behind these situations. In the interview, I explain how severe leg fractures can become limb-threatening, how quickly surgeons need to act, and what recovery could look like, including the chances of walking or skiing again.
Watch the video here:

Dr. Sean Baran, sports medicine specialist and orthopedic surgeon at Western Orthopaedics, explains how a broken leg can lead to amputation risk.

02/24/2026

Does losing weight make an athlete better? Associations between body composition and performance.

In endurance sports such as running and cross-country skiing, a lighter body weight can improve relative power generation and reduce energy consumption. However, losing weight requires an energy deficit, which can negatively impact health and performance. Therefore, weight optimization always involv...

02/17/2026

Treatment Options for Calcific Tendonitis of the Shoulder.

Calcific tendonitis is a common source of shoulder pain and can be a frustration given the severity of pain and the duration of symptoms. However, the news is not all bad. On a positive note, the vast majority of patients do find relief with nonsurgical treatments for this condition.

02/10/2026

Preventing Shoulder Pain After Vaccine Injection (SIRVA).

Shoulder pain is a common side effect of a vaccine. Usually, it gets better fairly quickly and causes no long-term problems. However, some people develop a rare problem called shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (SIRVA).

02/06/2026

Competing at Olympic speeds with a torn ACL is not just about pain tolerance — it’s about biomechanics and risk.

In this Colorado News interview, Dr. Sean Baran, sports medicine specialist at Western Orthopedics, explains why downhill skiing with a fully ruptured ACL is extraordinarily challenging and why a knee brace cannot replace the ligament’s critical role in rotational stability.

A powerful look at how elite athletes balance performance goals with medical reality — and why this decision should never be a model for recreational skiers.

Read the full story:

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Lindsey Vonn aims to compete in the Olympics despite a torn ACL, raising concerns about further injury risks in high-speed skiing, according to experts.

02/04/2026

Hip Replacement Dislocation.

Normal hip joints have many surrounding structures that help to stabilize the hip joint. These structures include muscles, ligaments, and the normal bony structure of the hip joint. Together, these structures keep the ball (the femoral head) within the socket (the acetabulum).

01/27/2026

Reduced opioid use found after knee surgery with mini-scope technique.

A new study led by Marshall University researchers found that patients who underwent knee surgery using a minimally invasive "needle arthroscopy" technique used significantly fewer opioids after surgery compared to those treated with standard arthroscopy.

01/02/2026

What Causes Infraspinatus Pain and How Can You Treat It?

Infraspinatus pain is often caused by repetitive shoulder motion. It’s common in tennis players, swimmers, carpenters, painters, and older adults. Learn more.

01/01/2026

Wishing you and your family a happy and healthy new year!

12/26/2025

Aerobic exercise found to be most effective for knee osteoarthritis.

For patients with knee osteoarthritis, aerobic activities such as walking, cycling, or swimming are likely to be the best exercise for improving pain, function, gait performance, and quality of life, finds a study published by The BMJ today.

12/22/2025

Happy Holidays! We wish you and your family a joyful holiday season!

12/19/2025

Hip Weakness May Contribute to Knee Pain.

Learn how your hip controls the position of your knee and how hip weakness may be causing your knee pain.