As a branch of medicine dealing with the musculoskeletal system, orthopedics treats painful conditions involving muscles, bones, ligaments, tendons, and joints. It is a highly unique branch of medicine because it deals with the actual musculoskeletal system itself, rather than just the conditions that can affect it. Dr. Vinay Chopra, an orthopedic surgeon, always looks to restore function, alleviate pain or deformity, and prevent the future development of those conditions. Today, the scope of orthopedics has broadened to include areas such as sports medicine, pediatrics, and even neurology. This article looks at some of the different reasons you may need to visit an orthopedics specialist.
- Sports Injuries
Commonly seen in professional athletes, sports injuries are a massive area of focus for orthopedists. Whether you play football, hockey, or any other sport, there’s always a chance you can get hurt while playing. In addition to treating the injury itself, working with an orthopedics specialist will ensure that you don’t return to play until you’re completely healed and that there is no risk of further damage.
- Hip Injury
Hip injuries can affect everyone, especially as we age. The hip has the most incredible range of motion in your entire body, making it very easy to injure. When injured badly enough, a person with this type of injury may experience pain when walking, difficulty even standing or going up the stairs, and a decreased range of motion. There may also be reduced strength in your leg when you have a hip injury. One of the most common types of this injury is called femoroacetabular impingement (FAI).
This injury comes from too much friction in the hip joint. That is because of enlarged bone structure at the point where bones meet. In these cases, it may be necessary to have surgery so that you can get back to your life pain-free and without difficulty with everyday activities.
- Acute Knee Injury
Surprisingly, more than half of all orthopedic surgeries are on the knee. That is because your knees are essential parts of your body when walking, working out, and enjoying everyday activities. When working correctly, they allow you to bend, rotate or extend without difficulty. There are many reasons you could end up with a knee injury, including falls, sports injuries, and work accidents. The excellent news is orthopedic surgeons can treat all of these problems successfully.
- Neck Injuries
Also known as cervical spine injuries, neck injuries are another common reason people need to visit an orthopedics specialist. Neck injuries can include whiplash, a common injury seen in rear-end collisions. Another common neck injury is a herniated cervical disc, which occurs when the spinal discs degenerate over time. In these cases, the outer portion of the disc bulges out and presses on nearby nerves or blood vessels.
In summary, orthopedics is a field of medicine that focuses on treating painful conditions involving muscles, bones, ligaments, tendons, and joints. It can help you manage different conditions such as neck injuries, acute knee injuries, hip injuries, and sports injuries.
