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HEALTH & FITNESS SPORTS MAGAZINE Fitness Enthusiast Dr. Mark Sanders doesn't believe in slowing down. Whether in his practice, or on his motorcycle or bicycle, at 49, he's constantly on the go just like most of his patients. Sanders is a native New Yorker who grew up on Brooklyn. He attended Baldwin High School, where he was a member of the National Honor Society and State University of New York, where he also graduated at the top of his class. After graduation, Sanders then obtained his doctor of medicine degree from Downstate Medical Center in Brooklyn, where he, again graduated with top honors. Following his internship and residency, Sander moved to Texas and has been here for more than 20 years. He began his private orthopedic surgery practice in Houston in 1986 and heads the Sanders Clinic (sandersclinic.net), specializing in orthopedic surgery and sports medicine.
Sanders is an avid cyclist and participates annually in the Houston-to-Austin MS 150 ride. He also enjoys motocross and rides at local MX parks every chance he gets. "I've always loved cycling, but I got into motocross a few years ago with a friend who was also interested," said Sanders. After repairing the injuries of a few fellow riders, Sanders was asked to participate as a moderator on the health and fitness forums of several motocross websites. Today, he is known as the "MX Doc" by many motocross riders and pens a monthly column on staying healthy, increasing strength and avoiding injury for BMX Today magazine. For Sanders, treating motocross riders like world-class rider Jeff Dement is rewarding on a personal level. "These guys have the spirit of real athletes," he says. "It's easy to get them back on their bike after an injury because they're motivated to do so. There's no reconditioning program too aggressive for them if they know it will get them back to their sport." His affinity for the high speed thrills and danger of the sport is appreciated by his patients as well. "Dr. Sanders' passion for our sport is evident. He understands athletes and doesn't even try to discourage us from doing the sport we love, which is something we hear too often. He's out there riding and doing all kinds of sports himself, and he gets it," said motocross racer and former patient Adam Hamza. Sanders stays on top of his game by adhering to a balanced diet and training program. "I am a staunch advocate of balanced nutrition and strength training to achieve the best results in quality of life, as well as, in sports and recovery," said Sanders. "I stress to athletes the vital role a healthy body plays in avoiding injuries in their sport and in recovery after a serious injury does occur." Sanders lives by his word. He rides a stationary bike everyday and lifts weights two days a week. In addition, he also bikes outside twice a week to maintain his endurance for long rides like the MS 150. Like any athlete, Sanders also keeps close watch over nutrition, preferring a low-carb and high-protein diet. He also believes that vitamin supplements can be beneficial if taken in moderation and with a physician's input. His patients call him the "Dr. Phil" of sports medicine because of his "no frills" approach. "Most doctors treat common motocross injuries with traditional methods, while telling these young riders why they shouldn't be doing what they're doing," he says. “They should be ensuring an aggressive and viable treatment plan for an athlete that's determined to get back out there." -Allison Stephan
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