Brett Toresdahl
( out of 332 reviews )

Brett Toresdahl, MD

Languages spoken: English

Clinical Locations

Primary Location

University Orthopaedic Center

590 Wakara Way
Salt Lake City , UT 84108
801-587-7109
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South Jordan Health Center

5126 West Daybreak Parkway
South Jordan , UT 84009
801-213-4500
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Brett Toresdahl, MD, is an Associate Professor and Director of Research for the Division of Sports Medicine for the Department of Orthopaedics. He is board-certified in Family Medicine, has a certificate of added qualification in Sports Medicine, and is a Fellow of the American Medical Society for Sports Medicine.

Dr. Toresdahl earned his undergraduate degree from Gonzaga University before attending medical school at the University of Washington in Seattle. He remained at UW for his family medicine residency and fellowship in primary care sports medicine. He then joined the medical staff at Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City, where he was a member of the Sports Medicine Institute and Research Director for the Primary Sports Medicine Service for almost 10 years.

He is the Medical Director for US Biathlon. He served as a physician at four Olympic Games – Rio 2016, PyeongChang 2018, Beijing 2022, and Milano Cortina 2026. Locally, he is the Head Team Physician for the Salt Lake City Stars. He previously served as a Medical Captain of the TCS New York City Marathon, Rugby United New York Head Team Physician, New York Cosmos Team Physician, Westchester Knicks Team Physician, UFC Orthopedic Consultant, Seattle Storm Assistant Team Physician, University of Washington Athletics Fellow Team Physician, and Seattle Marathon Assistant Medical Director.

Dr. Toresdahl is active in multiple areas of sports medicine research, including running medicine, injury surveillance, bone stress injuries, and tendinopathy. His publication on strength training in runners of the NYC Marathon was awarded the T. David Sisk Award for Research Excellence for Best Original Research. His previous research on the incidence and treatment of sudden cardiac arrest in high school athletes was awarded the AMSSM Harry L. Galanty, MD Young Investigator's Award. He is also the Principal Investigator of the AMSSM Runner Health Consortium.

As a native of Bozeman, Montana, he enjoys staying active outdoors with his family by skiing, snowboarding, running, biking, and hiking

Specialties

Board Certification

American Board of Family Medicine (Sports Medicine)
American Board of Family Medicine

Patient Rating

4.9 /5
( out of 332 reviews )

The patient rating score is an average of all responses on our patient experience survey. The rating averages scores for all questions about care from our providers.

The scale on which responses are measured is 1 to 5 with 5 being the best score.

Patient Comments

Patient comments are gathered from our patient experience survey and displayed in their entirety. For the convenience of our visitors, some patient comments have been translated from their original language into English while preserving their original meaning as accurately as possible. Patients are de-identified for confidentiality and patient privacy.

Brett Toresdahl, MD, is an Associate Professor and Director of Research for the Division of Sports Medicine for the Department of Orthopaedics. He is board-certified in Family Medicine, has a certificate of added qualification in Sports Medicine, and is a Fellow of the American Medical Society for Sports Medicine.

Dr. Toresdahl earned his undergraduate degree from Gonzaga University before attending medical school at the University of Washington in Seattle. He remained at UW for his family medicine residency and fellowship in primary care sports medicine. He then joined the medical staff at Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City, where he was a member of the Sports Medicine Institute and Research Director for the Primary Sports Medicine Service for almost 10 years.

He is the Medical Director for US Biathlon. He served as a physician at four Olympic Games – Rio 2016, PyeongChang 2018, Beijing 2022, and Milano Cortina 2026. Locally, he is the Head Team Physician for the Salt Lake City Stars. He previously served as a Medical Captain of the TCS New York City Marathon, Rugby United New York Head Team Physician, New York Cosmos Team Physician, Westchester Knicks Team Physician, UFC Orthopedic Consultant, Seattle Storm Assistant Team Physician, University of Washington Athletics Fellow Team Physician, and Seattle Marathon Assistant Medical Director.

Dr. Toresdahl is active in multiple areas of sports medicine research, including running medicine, injury surveillance, bone stress injuries, and tendinopathy. His publication on strength training in runners of the NYC Marathon was awarded the T. David Sisk Award for Research Excellence for Best Original Research. His previous research on the incidence and treatment of sudden cardiac arrest in high school athletes was awarded the AMSSM Harry L. Galanty, MD Young Investigator's Award. He is also the Principal Investigator of the AMSSM Runner Health Consortium.

As a native of Bozeman, Montana, he enjoys staying active outdoors with his family by skiing, snowboarding, running, biking, and hiking

Board Certification and Academic Information

Academic Departments Orthopaedics -Associate Professor
Board Certification
American Board of Family Medicine (Sports Medicine)
American Board of Family Medicine

Education history

Undergraduate Major: Applied Physics; Minors: Biology and Jazz - Gonzaga University B.S.
Professional Medical Medicine - University of Washington School of Medicine M.D.
Residency Family Medicine - University of Washington School of Medicine Resident
Fellowship Primary Care Sports Medicine - University of Washington School of Medicine Fellow

Selected Publications

Journal Article

  1. Toresdahl BG, Harmon KG, Drezner JA (2013). High school automated external defibrillator programs as markers of emergency preparedness for sudden cardiac arrest. J Athl Train, 48(2), 242-7.
  2. Drezner JA, Toresdahl BG, Rao AL, Huszti E, Harmon KG (2013). Outcomes from sudden cardiac arrest in US high schools: a 2-year prospective study from the National Registry for AED Use in Sports. Br J Sports Med, 47(18), 1179-83.
  3. Toresdahl BG, Rao AL, Harmon KG, Drezner JA (2014). Incidence of sudden cardiac arrest in high school student athletes on school campus. Heart Rhythm, 11(7), 1190-4.
  4. Fudge J, Harmon KG, Owens DS, Prutkin JM, Salerno JC, Asif IM, Haruta A, Pelto H, Rao AL, Toresdahl BG, Drezner JA (2014). Cardiovascular screening in adolescents and young adults: a prospective study comparing the Pre-participation Physical Evaluation Monograph 4th Edition and ECG. Br J Sports Med, 48(15), 1172-8.
  5. Rao AL, Asif IM, Drezner JA, Toresdahl BG, Harmon KG (2015). Suicide in National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Athletes: A 9-Year Analysis of the NCAA Resolutions Database. Sports Health, 7(5), 452-7.
  6. Toresdahl BG, Chang C, Confino J, Asif IM (2017). Cardiovascular screening practices in US National Governing Bodies and National Paralympic Committees. Br J Sports Med, 51(22), 1639-1640.
  7. Conway JJ, Toresdahl BG, Ling DI, Boniquit NT, Callahan LR, Kinderknecht JJ (2018). Prevalence of Inadequate Immunity to Measles, Mumps, Rubella, and Varicella in MLB and NBA Athletes. Sports Health, 10(5), 406-411.
  8. Toresdahl BG, Asif IM, Rodeo SA, Ling DI, Chang CJ (2018). Cardiovascular screening of Olympic athletes reported by chief medical officers of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. Br J Sports Med, 52(17), 1097-1100.
  9. Toresdahl BG, Blauwet C, Chang CJ, Ling DI, Asif IM (2019). Cardiovascular screening of Paralympic athletes reported by chief medical officers of the PyeongChang 2018 Paralympic Winter Games. Br J Sports Med, 53(1), 43-44.
  10. Soligard T, Palmer D, Steffen K, Lopes AD, Grant ME, Kim D, Lee SY, Salmina N, Toresdahl BG, Chang JY, Budgett R, Engebretsen L (2019). Sports injury and illness incidence in the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Winter Games: a prospective study of 2914 athletes from 92 countries. Br J Sports Med, 53(17), 1085-1092.
  11. Williams EA, Pelto HF, Toresdahl BG, Prutkin JM, Owens DS, Salerno JC, Harmon KG, Drezner JA (2019). Performance of the American Heart Association ( AHA ) 14-Point Evaluation Versus Electrocardiography for the Cardiovascular Screening of High School Athletes: A Prospective Study. J Am Heart Assoc, 8(14), e012235.
  12. McElheny K, Toresdahl B, Ling D, Mages K, Asif I (2019). Comparative Effectiveness of Alternative Dosing Regimens of Hyaluronic Acid Injections for Knee Osteoarthritis: A Systematic Review. Sports Health, 11(5), 461-466.
  13. Toresdahl BG, McElheny K, Metzl J, Ammerman B, Chang B, Kinderknecht J (2020). A Randomized Study of a Strength Training Program to Prevent Injuries in Runners of the New York City Marathon. Sports Health, 12(1), 74-79.
  14. Conway JJ, Toresdahl BG, Asplund CA, Asif IM (2020). Preparticipation Cardiovascular Screening: An Infrastructure Assessment in Collegiate Athletics. Clin J Sport Med, 30(4), 315-320.
  15. Orchard JJ, Orchard JW, Toresdahl B, Asif IM, Hughes D, La Gerche A, Semsarian C (2021). Cardiovascular Screening of Elite Athletes by Sporting Organizations in Australia: A Survey of Chief Medical Officers. Clin J Sport Med, 31(5), 401-406.
  16. Disser NP, De Micheli AJ, Schonk MM, Konnaris MA, Piacentini AN, Edon DL, Toresdahl BG, Rodeo SA, Casey EK, Mendias CL (2020). Musculoskeletal Consequences of COVID-19. J Bone Joint Surg Am, 102(14), 1197-1204.
  17. Krabak BJ, Roberts WO, Tenforde AS, Ackerman KE, Adami PE, Baggish AL, Barrack M, Cianca J, Davis I, D'Hemecourt P, Fredericson M, Goldman JT, Harrast MA, Heiderscheit BC, Hollander K, Kraus E, Luke A, Miller E, Moyer M, Rauh MJ, Toresdahl BG, Wasfy MM (2021). Youth running consensus statement: minimising risk of injury and illness in youth runners. Br J Sports Med, 55(6), 305-318.
  18. Toresdahl BG, Nguyen J, Goolsby MA, Drakos MC, Lyman S (2020). High Number of Daily Steps Recorded by Runners Recovering from Bone Stress Injuries. HSS J, 16(Suppl 2), 408-411.
  19. Toresdahl BG, Young WK, Quijano B, Scott DA (2021). A Systematic Review of Telehealth and Sport-Related Concussion: Baseline Testing, Diagnosis, and Management. HSS J, 17(1), 18-24.
  20. Toresdahl B, McElheny K, Metzl J, Kinderknecht J, Quijano B, Ammerman B, Fontana MA (2022). Factors associated with injuries in first-time marathon runners from the New York City marathon. Phys Sportsmed, 50(3), 227-232.
  21. Conway JJ, Curriero FC, Camp CL, Toresdahl BG, Coleman S, Kinderknecht JJ (2021). Time Out of Play Due to Illness in Major and Minor League Baseball. Clin J Sport Med, 31(3), e137-e143.
  22. Wolff AL, Ling DI, Casey EK, Toresdahl BG, Gellhorn AC (2021). Feasibility and impact of a musculoskeletal health for musicians (MHM) program for musician students: A randomized controlled pilot study. J Hand Ther, 34(2), 159-165.
  23. Robinson JN, Fontana MA, Metzl JD, Dixit S, Kliethermes SA, Quijano B, Toresdahl B (2021). Running races during the COVID-19 pandemic: a 2020 survey of the running community. BMJ Open Sport Exerc Med, 7(4), e001192.
  24. Toresdahl BG, Robinson JN, Kliethermes SA, Metzl JD, Dixit S, Quijano B, Fontana MA (2022). Increased Incidence of Injury Among Runners With COVID-19. Sports Health, 14(3), 372-376.
  25. Toresdahl BG, Metzl JD, Kinderknecht J, McElheny K, de Mille P, Quijano B, Fontana MA (2023). Training patterns associated with injury in New York City Marathon runners. Br J Sports Med, 57(3), 146-152.
  26. Soligard T, Palmer D, Steffen K, Lopes AD, Grek N, He X, Wang Y, Grant ME, Toresdahl BG, Gilgien M, Budgett R, Engebretsen (2023). Olympic Games during nationwide lockdown: sports injuries and illnesses, including COVID-19, at the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics. British journal of sports medicine,
  27. McGrath TM, Fontana MA, Toresdahl B (2024). Injury patterns and healthcare utilisation by runners of the New York City Marathon. BMJ open sport & exercise medicine, 10(1), e001766.
  28. Kraszewski A, Argentieri E, Harris K, Toresdahl B, Drakos M, Hillstrom H, Allen A, Nwawka O (2024). Association Between Patellar Tendon Abnormality and Land-Jump Biomechanics in Male Collegiate Basketball Players During the Preseason. Orthopaedic journal of sports medicine, 12(4), 23259671241242008.
  29. Afifi T, Barrack MT, Casey E, Huddle M, Kliethermes SA, Kraus E, Toresdahl BG, Wasfy MM, Tenforde A (2024). Infographic. Head to toe considerations for the postpartum endurance athlete. British journal of sports medicine, 58(11), 630-632.
  30. Toresdahl BG, Conway J, Miller TT, Goolsby MA, Geannette CS, Quijano B, Callahan L (2024). Serial Ultrasonography for the Assessment of Healing of Lower Extremity Bone Stress Injury and Correlation With Return to Sport/Exercise. Sports health, 16(5), 750-758.
  31. Kraszewski A, Harris K, Argentieri E, Toresdahl B, Drakos M, Hillstrom H, Allen A, Nwawka O (2024). Association Between Longitudinal Changes in Patellar Tendon Abnormality and Land-Jump Biomechanics in Male Collegiate Basketball Players. Orthopaedic journal of sports medicine, 12(9), 23259671241261354.
  32. Tenforde AS, Kraus E, Kliethermes SA, Fontana MA, Barrack MT, Dubon M, Heikura IA, Hollander K, Kroshus E, Joachim MR, Lopes AD, Rauh MJ, Chastain R, Harrast M, Heiderscheit B, Krabak BJ, Miller EM, Napier C, Roberts WO, Roche D, Roche M, Schroeder AN, Taylor-Douglas D, Tenforde K, Verhagen E, Warden SJ, Willy RW, Toresdahl B (2025). Standardising health history and injury surveillance of participants in endurance events: a modified Delphi consensus statement from the AMSSM runner health consortium. British journal of sports medicine, 59(4), 211-221.

Review

  1. Toresdahl B, Courson R, Börjesson M, Sharma S, Drezner J (2012). Emergency cardiac care in the athletic setting: from schools to the Olympics. [Review]. Br J Sports Med, 46 Suppl 1, i85-9.
  2. O'Kane JW, Toresdahl BG (2014). The evidenced-based shoulder evaluation. [Review]. Curr Sports Med Rep, 13, (5), 307-13.
  3. Toresdahl BG, Asif IM (2016). Update on Zika Virus: Considerations for the Traveling Athlete. [Review]. Sports Health, 8, (5), 438-43.
  4. Toresdahl BG, Asif IM (2020). Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19): Considerations for the Competitive Athlete. [Review]. Sports Health, 12, (3), 221-224.
  5. Metzl JD, McElheny K, Robinson JN, Scott DA, Sutton KM, Toresdahl BG (2020). Considerations for Return to Exercise Following Mild-to-Moderate COVID-19 in the Recreational Athlete. [Review]. HSS J, 16, (Suppl 1), 102-107.
  6. Wiederman MW, Toresdahl B, Asif IM (2020). Clinician Well-being during a Pandemic: Practices to Boost Resilience and Life Satisfaction. [Review]. Curr Sports Med Rep, 19, (12), 524-529.
  7. Ghasem W, Abouzeid C, Toresdahl BG, Shah AB (2022). Updated Blood Pressure Guidelines: Implications for Athletes. [Review]. Curr Hypertens Rep, 24, (10), 477-484.
  8. Toresdahl BG, Shah AB, Asif IM (2022). Elite Athletes With COVID-19: Time to Let Them Compete? [Review]. Sports Health, 14, (5), 616-617.

Editorial

  1. Toresdahl BG, Masters C, Drezner JA (2022). Dr Joseph Marek and Young Hearts for Life: over a quarter-million screening tests and counting! Br J Sports Med, 56(3), 173-174.
  2. Asif IM, Toresdahl BG (2022). The Parallel Evolution of COVID-19 and Sport. Sports Health, 14(5), 614-615.
  3. Stone GL, Toresdahl BG, Asif I (2024). Avian Flu 2024: Considerations for the Competitive Athlete. Sports health, 16(5), 685-686.

Letter

  1. Drezner J, Harmon K, Toresdahl B (2014). Reply to the editor--Incidence of sudden cardiac death in high school athletes: implications for cardiovascular screening. [Letter to the editor]. Heart Rhythm, 11(12), e200-1.

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