Michael Parentis, MD, a physician board-certified in orthopedic surgery, coaches lacrosse in his spare time and has had a great deal of success. He took his team to the 2015 Monsignor Martin League Championship. As a young man, Michael Parentis, MD, developed his passion for lacrosse while playing on The Nichols School team in Buffalo, New York.
Lacrosse is a sport of North American origin that likely predates the arrival of European explorers and settlers. The sport was played among Native Americans and was characterized in its original form by a netted stick used to convey and to toss a ball, which players were not allowed to touch with their hands. The earliest recorded instance of the sport dates to the early 17th century, when it was documented by a Frenchman named Jean de Brebeuf, who watched a competition between teams of Huron Indians. Later historical instances important to Lacrosse history include a lacrosse demonstration in Montreal during the early 19th century.
In fact, Canada proved to be the cultural incubator in which modern lacrosse developed and from which it ultimately spread. Before the American Civil War had even begun, lacrosse was so popular in Canada, it was the country’s national game.
Today, lacrosse is growing rapidly, with over 500,000 athletes actively playing the sport.
Michael Parentis, MD, a resident of Buffalo, New York, has spent the last two decades leading a successful career in medicine. Serving as an orthopaedic surgeon with the WNY Knee and Orthopaedic Surgery group, Michael Parentis, MD, provides care for all orthopaedic problems in the body and is particularly familiar with injuries to such areas as the knee.Made up of cartilage, ligaments, bones, and tendons, the knee is the largest joint in the body and, unfortunately, the most easily injured. Below are a few of the more common knee problems and injuries:- Dislocation. This type of injury occurs when the bones of the knee are either partially or completely out of place. Dislocations often result from an abnormal knee structure or from high-energy trauma like motor vehicle crashes.- Knee tendon bursitis. Also known as pes anserine bursitis, this condition affects the bursae, small sacs containing fluid located between the bone and soft tissue of the knee. Due to stress and overuse, these bursae can become irritated, thus causing pain inside the knee or just below the knee joint.- Posterior cruciate ligament injury. Sports-related contact and motor vehicle crashes are the most common causes of posterior cruciate ligament injuries. These injuries occur when the front of the knee is hit while the knee is bent. As a result of the impact, the posterior cruciate ligament tears.- Unstable kneecap. Normally, the kneecap rests in a notch in the femur that grants the kneecap enough room to move while walking, standing, and sitting. However, when this groove is shallow or uneven, the kneecap can slide off the femur during movement. Further, sharp blows to the kneecap can completely pop it out of place.
