A person who specializes in orthopedics is known as an orthopedist. Orthopedists use both surgical and nonsurgical approaches to treat a variety of musculoskeletal issues, such as sports injuries, joint pain, and back problems. This article provides an overview of orthopedics. It outlines the different conditions that orthopedists treat and what people can expect during an orthopedic appointment.
The article also covers the qualifications required to become an orthopedist.
Orthopedics is a branch of medicine that focuses on the care of the skeletal system and its interconnecting parts. These parts include the:
- Bones
- Muscles
- Joints
- Tendons
- Ligaments
An orthopedist often works as part of a larger orthopedic treatment team. This team may include:
- Physician assistants
- Nurse practitioners
- Occupational and physical therapists
- Athletic trainers
What do orthopedists treat?
Orthopedists treat a wide variety of musculoskeletal conditions. These conditions may be present from birth, or they may occur as a result of injury or age-related wear and tear. Below are some of the most common conditions that an orthopedist may treat:
- Joint pain from arthritis
- Bone fractures
- Soft tissue (muscle, tendon, and ligament) injuries
- Back pain
- Neck pain
- Shoulder pain and problems, such as bursitis
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Overuse and sports injuries, including tendinitis, meniscus tears, and anterior cruciate ligament (acl) tears
- Congenital conditions, such as clubfoot and scoliosis
The Field of Orthopedic Medicine
The musculoskeletal system comprises the framework of the body and the mechanics that make it function. While orthopedics focuses on this system specifically, the reality is that just about every medical specialty has some overlap with this specialty.
While some orthopedic surgeons undergo additional training to perform specialized types of surgeries, orthopedic surgeons in general spend the majority of their time treating patients outside of the operating room. Most orthopedic specialists have a busy office-based practice. Orthopedic surgeons can also be found working in the emergency room, taking care of patients in hospital wards, or even on the sidelines of sporting events.
It takes around 10 years of schooling and training post-college to become an orthopedic surgeon, but it's a highly in-demand specialty. And even after more than a decade of training, many surgeons further sub-specialize within orthopedics.
Orthopedic Diagnosis
Not every person with shoulder pain has a rotator cuff tear, and not everyone with back pain has a muscle strain. While these problems may be among the most common causes of discomfort, if your condition is something else, the treatment may change.
Step number one is to find an orthopedic specialist who can help diagnose the cause of your specific problem and steer your treatment in the right direction.
