The 2026 Milano Winter Olympics starts on February 6th, featuring 16 sports disciplines, including Figure Skating. We have here for you a compelling and timely interview: Dr Tracy Espiritu McKay, DO, a team doctor for the U.S. Figure Skating national team.

AAPM&R: as Dr Espiritu McKay is chair of the Academy’s Performing Arts Medicine Community,

Dr. Espiritu McKay can candidly share with you:

What injuries and physical stressors elite figure skaters are facing right now heading into the Milano Olympics—and how doctors work to keep athletes competition-ready without overtraining or burnout

How Olympic team doctors make real-time medical decisions during qualifying events, including managing pain, recovery, and return-to-ice protocols under intense pressure; she can draw on her firsthand experiences working rink-side with Team USA athletes

What viewers don’t see on TV: the behind-the-scenes medical preparation that helps skaters peak at the right moment, from travel recovery and injury prevention to mental-physical performance balance

Dr. Espiritu McKay is a team doctor working closely with Olympians who are members of the men’s and women’s, singles and pairs, U.S. Figure Skating national team. She has specifically been treating and working with these athletes during their Pre-Olympics Championships and Qualifying Events, serving in a crucial capacity for the athletes during the build-up to the games. Dr. Espiritu McKay traveled with these athletes to Tilburg, Netherlands for one of the qualifying international competitions – she was there Jan 22nd - Jan 25th, 2026.

"The Vital Women Podcast" is brought to you by MHA of Dutchess County and Produced by CMJW Entertainment.

MHA of Dutchess County: https://mhadutchess.org/

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This episode is proudly sponsored by: Dr. Renia Barrett-Baas and her business Salt Boutique Labs

https://saltboutiquelabs.com/

• (00:00:00) - What Do You Do As a Physiatrist For Figure Skaters
• (00:05:29) - Treating the US Figure Skating Team
• (00:06:40) - Dancers vs Skaters
• (00:07:39) - How Do You Treat an Accident on the Ice?
• (00:10:54) - Olympic Athletes' Mental Health
• (00:14:09) - How to Prevent Osteoporosis in Skaters?
• (00:15:38) - How do you treat patients differently than, say, a sports surgeon
• (00:16:26) - What is the treatment for shoulder pain? (Injection)
• (00:17:57) - How to recover from injuries as you get older
• (00:19:05) - Connor on His Olympic Moment
• (00:20:20) - Dr. McKay on Becoming a Physician on the Olympic Team