Scott Laker, MD

Professor, Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation


FacultyPhoto
Medical School
  • MD, University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine (2003)
Undergraduate School
  • BS, Florida State University (FL) (1999)
Internship
  • Jackson Memorial Hospital/Jackson Health System Program (2004)
Residency
  • University of Colorado (University Hospital) Program, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (2007)
Fellowships
  • University of Colorado (University Hospital) Program, Pain Medicine (2008)
Languages
English
Department
Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation

Recognitions

  • Outstanding Council Service Award, American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (2011)

Research Interests

My research interests include lumbar epidural steroid injections, sports-related concussion, and thoracic outlet syndrome. I've published various book chapters on sports medicine and spine topics, and am often invited as a local, regional, and national lecturer on sports-related concussion, spinal conditions, and sports medicine topics.

Publications

  • A Ventral Epidural Facet Cyst Causing Central Canal Stenosis and Lumbar Nerve Compression in a Woman With Lumbar Radicular Pain ML Miedema, S Laker - PM&R, 2012 - pmrjournal.org
  • Series of podcasts, created for the AAPMR on concussions. There is no citation available for this.
  • Imaging of Cervical Metastases in Thyroid Cancer
  • Worsowicz GM, D'Orsie S, Laker SR. The never-ending sustainable growth rate debate. PM R. 2014 Aug;6(8):739-41. PubMed PMID: 25169708
  • Laker SR. Sports-Related Concussion. Curr Pain Headache Rep. 2015 Aug;19(8):41. PubMed PMID: 26122533
  • Laker S, Friedrich J, Stanos SP, Tyburski MD. Management of Chronic Pain. PM R. 2015 Nov;7(11 Suppl):S316-23. PubMed PMID: 26568509
  • Lersten M, Duhon B, Laker SR. Diastematomyelia as an Incidental Finding Lumbar on Magnetic Resonance Imaging. PM R. 2017 Jan;9(1):95-97. PubMed PMID: 27647216
  • Meron A, McMullen CW, Laker SR, Comstock RD. Poster 197-C Epidemiology of Cervical Spine Injuries in High School Athletes. PM R. 2016 Sep;8(9S):S329. PubMed PMID: 27673263
  • Huang ME, Laker SR, Smedberg PC. Merit-Based Incentive Payment System: Preparing Your Practice for Upcoming Change. PM R. 2016 Aug;8(8):792-7. PubMed PMID: 27543990
  • Laker SR. Concussion in Sports. Phys Med Rehabil Clin N Am. 2016 May;27(2):xiii. PubMed PMID: 27154862
  • Laker SR, Meron A, Greher MR, Wilson J. Retirement and Activity Restrictions Following Concussion. Phys Med Rehabil Clin N Am. 2016 May;27(2):487-501. PubMed PMID: 27154858
  • Meron A, McMullen C, Laker SR, Currie D, Comstock RD. Epidemiology of Cervical Spine Injuries in High School Athletes Over a Ten-Year Period. PM R. 2017 Sep 12. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 28919185
  • Lersten M, Duhon B, Laker SR. Diastematomyelia as an Incidental Finding Lumbar on Magnetic Resonance Imaging. PM R. 2017 Jan;9(1):95-97. PubMed PMID: 27647216
  • Laker SR, Greiss C, Finnoff JT, Singh JR. Football Participation and Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy. PM R. 2018 Jun;10(6):655-660. PubMed PMID: 29908611
  • Meron A, McMullen C, Laker SR, Currie D, Comstock RD. Epidemiology of Cervical Spine Injuries in High School Athletes Over a Ten-Year Period. PM R. 2018 Apr;10(4):365-372. PubMed PMID: 28919185
  • Lersten M, Duhon B, Laker SR. Diastematomyelia as an Incidental Finding Lumbar on Magnetic Resonance Imaging. PM R. 2017 Jan;9(1):95-97. PubMed PMID: 27647216
  • Laker SR, Adair WA 3rd, Annaswamy TM, Frank LW, Hatzakis M Jr, Hubbell SL, Ifejika NL, Ivanhoe CB, Jones VA, Lupinacci MF, Purcell AD, Standaert CJ, Dolak MA. American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Position Statement on Definitions for Rehabilitation Physician and Director of Rehabilitation in Inpatient Rehabilitation Settings. PM R. 2019 Jan;11(1):98-102. PubMed PMID: 30667596
  • Dise-Lewis JE, Forster JE, McAvoy K, Stearns-Yoder KA, Bahraini NH, Laker SR, Brenner LA. The Natural History of Postconcussion Recovery Among High School Athletes. J Head Trauma Rehabil. 2019 Sep Oct;34(5):E36-E44. PubMed PMID: 30829818
  • Akuthota V, Meron AJ, Singh JR, Boimbo S, Laker SR, Brakke Holman R, Sridhar BV, Friedrich J, Sullivan WJ. The utility of magnetic resonance imaging results in physician decision-making before initial lumbar spinal injection. Spine J. 2019 Sep;19(9):1455-1462. PubMed PMID: 31009770
  • Ryder SC, Gnirke M, Laker SR, Hoffmire C, Comstock RD. Relationship of Overuse Injuries and Extrascholastic Sport Participation in High School Athletes 2009-2010 through 2015-2016. PM R. 2019 Nov 26. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 31769926
  • Howell DR, Kirkwood MW, Laker S, Wilson JC. Collision and Contact Sport Participation and Quality of Life Among Adolescent Athletes. J Athl Train. 2020 Nov 1;55(11):1174-1180. PubMed PMID: 33112960
  • Cohen SP, Baber ZB, Buvanendran A, McLean BC, Chen Y, Hooten WM, Laker SR, Wasan AD, Kennedy DJ, Sandbrink F, King SA, Fowler IM, Stojanovic MP, Hayek SM, Phillips CR. Pain Management Best Practices from Multispecialty Organizations During the COVID-19 Pandemic and Public Health Crises. Pain Med. 2020 Nov 7;21(7):1331-1346. PubMed PMID: 32259247
  • Ryder SC, Gnirke M, Laker SR, Hoffmire C, Comstock RD. Relationship of Overuse Injuries and Extrascholastic Sport Participation in High School Athletes 2009-2010 through 2015-2016. PM R. 2020 Sep;12(9):882-890. PubMed PMID: 31769926
  • Stokes D, Heronemus M, Cali M, Meron A, Laker SR. Assessment of the Current State of Sports Coverage Participation, Training, and Confidence Ratings among Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Residents and Residency Programs. Curr Sports Med Rep. 2023 Oct 1;22(10):361-366. PubMed PMID: 37800748

Professional Memberships

  • American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Member
  • North American Spine Society, Member

Practice Locations

CU Medicine Orthopedics and Sports Medicine - UCHealth Steadman Hawkins Clinic Denver
175 Inverness Drive West
Suite 200
Englewood, CO 80112
303-694-3333

CU Medicine Regenerative Medicine, Hand and Spine Center
175 Inverness Drive West
Suite 200
Englewood, CO 80112
303-694-3333

Hospital Affiliation
  • University of Colorado Hospital

Specialty Information

Specialties
  • Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Board Certification
  • Pain Medicine, Board Certification
  • Sports Medicine, Board Certification
Conditions & Treatments
  • Bones, Joints and Muscles
  • Bones, Joints and Muscles - Arthritis
  • Bones, Joints and Muscles - Back Pain
  • Bones, Joints and Muscles - Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
  • Bones, Joints and Muscles - Hip Injuries and Disorders
  • Bones, Joints and Muscles - Knee Injuries and Disorders
  • Bones, Joints and Muscles - Leg Injuries and Disorders
  • Bones, Joints and Muscles - Neck Disorders and Injuries
  • Bones, Joints and Muscles - Scoliosis
  • Bones, Joints and Muscles - Shoulder Injuries and Disorders
  • Bones, Joints and Muscles - Spine Injuries
  • Bones, Joints and Muscles - Sprains and Strains
  • Brain and Nervous System - Spine Diseases and Conditions
  • Brain and Nervous System - Trauma / Nerve Injuries
  • Wellness and Prevention - Exercise and Physical Fitness
  • Brain and Nervous System
  • Wellness and Prevention
Clinical Interests
I treat a large spectrum of non-surgical sports and spine conditions including sports-related concussion, sports injuries, spinal stenosis, scoliosis, herniated discs, and radiculopathy. I'm trained in the use spinal injections, peripheral joint injection therapy, and EMG/NCS. Previously serving as a member of the University of Washington Sports and Spine Physicians and a founding member of the Seattle Sports Concussion Program, I've cared for athletes at all levels of participation from adolescents to adults and from amateurs to professionals.

Care Philosophy
I work with patients to create individualized treatment plans to help them reach their goals, whether it be recovery from injury, maintenance of chronic conditions, or overall performance improvement.