What is Orthopedics?

 

During some time in their life, most people will visit an orthopedic specialist or surgeon.  Some, such as scholastic or professional athletes, will tend to visit an Orthopedist much more often than the rest.  Our orthopedic health experts play a critical role in mending our hindered body motion. Without them, our recovery time would be greatly extended – if we were able to recover at all.   So, exactly what is Orthopedics?

“Orthopedics” is the study of the musculoskeletal system,  which covers a wide array of the body’s parts and movements.  Orthopedic Doctors specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of injuries of the muscular skeletal system.

 

The musculoskeletal system includes:

• Joints
• Tendons
• Bones
• Nerves
• Muscles
• Ligaments

 

We can consider the musculoskeletal system as the skeletal foundation for our body.  They make up the framework for our body’s movement.   As such, nearly all medical specialties have some component of and overlap with the musculoskeletal system and orthopedics.

The origin of “Orthopedics” rests with the Greek word ‘ortho‘ , which means straight, and ‘pedics‘ from the Greek word ‘pais’ meaning children.  Under this defined specialty, orthopedists have been involved in the treatment of crippled children for centuries.  A main condition treated by Orthopedists has been scoliosis in children.

As this medical field grew, it soon encompassed the treatment of a wide range of musculoskeletal disorders in patients of all ages.

 

A few of the more common injuries diagnosed and treated by today’s Orthopedic specialists include:

• Knee and hip reconstruction
• Hand and wrist surgery
• Pediatric orthopedics
• Trama
• Sports Medicine
• Spine disorders

 

During a given orthopedic treatment or surgury, the specialist often times work in conjunction and consultation with other medical professionals, such as podiatrists, rheumatologists, plastic surgeons, and neurosurgeons. Additionally, the orthopedists or orthopedic surgeon may schedule physical therapy or rehab treatments for the patent – a key component of the extended healing process.

While many serious orthopedic-related injuries may require surgery, often times they do not.  There is a growing trend toward non-invasive techniques, such as Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Therapy, that are highly effective, and reduce the amount of downtime for the patient.

The key to any sports-related or orthopedic injury is to have it checked out by a medical professional so that you mend quickly and correctly.