WVU Medicine’s Dr. Scheel Advises Stretching Well Before Starting Spring Activity

By Andrew Wilson

With the return of sunny days and warmer weather, most people can’t wait to get moving again after a winter of limited activity. But before jumping in at full speed, Michael Scheel, M.D., an orthopedic surgeon with WVU Medicine, says most people neglect an important part of Spring activity.

“Nobody stretches enough, and it can lead to injuries,” he said. “Especially among the weekend warriors who get right out there trying to recreate past glories. Take some time to stretch before you begin any activity.”

Dr. Scheel identifies three problem areas that everyone should be sure to stretch: hamstrings (muscles in the back of the upper leg), Achilles (tendon at the back of the ankle), and the iliotibial band or IT band, which runs from a person’s buttocks to their knee and can become inflamed from rubbing against the hip or knee bones.

“Before starting a Spring program, take 5-10 minutes to warm up each of the muscle groups by focusing on stretches for each of the problem areas,” he advises. “If you can also take a brisk walk before beginning your activity, you will be way ahead of the curve.”

Dr. Scheel says the most common injuries orthopedic surgeons see in the Spring are meniscus tears in the knee, as well as tendinitis, and bursitis. Ankle sprains are also common, even among people who have stayed in shape by spending the winter walking or running on a treadmill or in a gym. It’s as simple as the different surface that exists inside versus outside.

“Most ankle sprains are due to taking a step on some uneven ground and then the ankle turns awkwardly,” he says. “That’s just bad luck.”

In his practice, Dr. Scheel specializes in total knee and hip replacements, as well as minimally invasive procedures on both the hip and knee. He says that there are a number of factors that go into determining when to perform a minimally invasive procedure or a total joint replacement.

“Obviously the minimally invasive surgery has a quicker recovery time, but it’s not one size fits all,” Dr. Scheel said. “Procedures need to be tailored to the specific pathology a patient has as well as the specific goals and expectations each person has.”

The type of procedure is not age-dependent either.

“I don’t just consider the chronological age of the patient but the physical age as well,” Dr. Scheel emphasizes. “I’ve seen a lot of otherwise healthy 70- or 80-year-old patients in need of a knee or hip procedure, who are in better shape than some younger people.”

New technology in the form of robotic knee replacement surgery has Dr. Scheel excited at what the future holds. In traditional knee replacement surgery, the surgery is guided by an anatomical average of the population, which may work for the majority of people, but sometimes leads to less than a perfect fit for certain people.

“We can customize a total knee replacement that is specific to that patient’s needs,” he said. “Robotic surgery is a computer-navigated knee surgery in which we take certain data and anatomical points specific to the patient.”

He says the data from the anatomical points and the sensors of the computer can pinpoint precisely where he needs to cut to get the best possible fit for that patient.

“We are never going to reproduce the anatomy we were born with, but this procedure is really good,” he says. “WVU Medicine is committed to this program.”

Dr. Scheel began his affiliation with WVU Medicine in 2022.

“What encouraged me and prompted my move to WVU Medicine was the ability they gave me to sculpt my practice the way I want to,” he said. “It suits my skill set and fits with what is needed in the region. We are building a center of excellence at Reynolds and at Wheeling, which will be a model for the next generation of surgeons coming in.”

Michael Scheel, MD, is an orthopedic surgeon who practices with WVU Medicine Wheeling Hospital and Reynolds Memorial Hospital. He served three and a half years in the Air Force as a surgeon and was deployed for six months to Baghdad, Iraq.

Dr. Scheel is a graduate of Penn State and earned his medical degree at University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. His residency was completed at WVU. After graduation, Scheel served 3 1/2 years in the Air Force and spent six months of his tour in Iraq treating wounded soldiers.

Dr. Scheel is a fellow of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons and is board certified by the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons. He performs surgeries at Wheeling Hospital’s Ambulatory Surgery Center in Bridgeport and Reynolds Memorial Hospital.

His specialties include:

• Total hip replacement

• Total knee replacement

• Minimally invasive anterior supine total hip

• Minimally invasive partial knee

• Revision procedures for failed replacements

Dr. Scheel sees patients at the following locations:

• Reynolds Memorial Hospital Orthopedic Clinic
  800 Wheeling Ave, Glendale, WV
  (304) 221-4520

• Bellaire Health Clinic
  3000 Guernsey St, Bellaire, OH
  (740) 676-2553