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Pirates Choose Maine Orthopedic Sports Medicine Practice as Team Physicians

October 15, 2010 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Portland Pirates News Release


PORTLAND, ME (October 11, 2010) - OA Centers for Orthopaedics today announced that the Portland Pirates has selected OA as their Team Physicians for the 2010-11 season.

Professional hockey players risk injury every time they step foot on the ice. Throughout the course of the season, players suffer from knee, shoulder, hip, groin and back injuries as well as concussions and lacerations to the head, scalp and face. Among younger athletes, hockey-related injuries have risen by more than 85% since 1990.1 More is at stake for professional athletes who making a living on the ice.

"Concussions, illness and injury prevention are major concerns for professional athletes today," said Tom Murray, M.D. of OA Centers for Orthopaedics and Head Team Physician for the Portland Pirates. "So as we begin working with the Pirates, we are bringing their concussion management practices up to NHL standards, making recommendations - including flu shots this week - to reduce the prevalence of illness during the season and providing expedited evaluation and diagnostic services when athletes are injured."

OA was an early adopter and a longtime proponent of the ImPACT test for concussion management. ImPACT, or Immediate Post-Concussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing, evaluates concussions through computer-based neuropsychological testing. It measures multiple aspects of cognitive functioning in athletes, and provides tools to assist physicians in determining an athlete's fitness to return to play after suffering a concussion. The test provides immediate results for evaluating physicians and indicates whether additional diagnostic action, including a written test and physical evaluation, are required.

As Team Physicians for the Pirates, OA's sports medicine specialists will be at every home game the Pirates play this year. OA will follow-up with all injuries and recommend treatment and rehabilitation plans to the injured athlete, trainers and coaches.

"We chose OA because they are the best sports medicine practice in Northern New England, offering the most comprehensive, innovative care and solutions for all of our team's medical needs," said Brian Petrovek, Managing Owner/CEO of the Portland Pirates. "When our guys get hurt, we want them to have immediate medical attention. OA provides that support for the Pirates, and we are excited about this new relationship moving forward."

The OA medical team is lead by Head Team Physician, Thomas F. Murray, Jr., M.D., with Assistant Team Physician, Lucien R. Ouellette, M.D., with orthopedic consulting support from OA's Sports Medicine Center team of medical professionals.

OA physicians also serve as the Team Physicians and/or sports medicine consultants for the Portland Sea Dogs, Portland Phoenix Soccer, Bowdoin College, St. Joseph's College, USM and dozens of area high school sports teams.

1 Bloomberg Business Week, September 26, 2010: http://www.businessweek.com/lifestyle/content/healthday/643435.html

ABOUT OA CENTERS FOR ORTHOPAEDICS

Founded in 1982, OA Centers for Orthopaedics is the premier orthopaedic practice in Maine and one of the country's leading innovators in orthopaedics. OA's 23 physicians and surgeons are highly specialized in areas such as sports medicine; hand surgery; joint reconstruction of the hip, knee and shoulder; medical and surgical treatment of the spine; foot and ankle surgery; and complex fracture treatment. OA performs more orthopaedic procedures than any other practice in Maine, and some of the most sophisticated procedures in the nation. In 2007, US News & World Report ranked Maine Medical Center in the top 50 in the orthopaedics category. OA is accredited by the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC).

Headquartered in Portland, Maine, OA has satellite offices in Windham and Saco. OA-Experience in motion. For more information, please visit www.orthoassociates.com .



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The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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