How surfing helps Dr. Timothy Peppers improve his surgical practice

Spine

Orthopedic spine surgeon Timothy Peppers, MD, hits the waves before going into the operating room at Scripps Clinic Encinitas (Calif.).

Three takeaways:

1. Dr. Peppers, who has been surfing for nearly 40 years, said surfing helps him better inform patients.

"I spend a lot of my day trying to educate people," he said. "My active lifestyle — and love of surfing and skiing — has given me more insight to explain all these things."

2. Specifically, Dr. Peppers tries to convey that a healthy lifestyle is important in managing neck and back pain. Surfing helps him stay healthy and feel young, he said.

3. Dr. Peppers also said surfing enables him to empathize with patients' reluctance to give up doing the things they love.

"Most people don't want to be told they can't keep playing," he said. "And I am one of those people, too. So I say, let's figure out how you can stay on the golf course or tennis court as long as you can."

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