Have you recently dislocated your shoulder? Have you perhaps broken a bone? In such moments, the most logical step is paying a visit to an orthopedic doctor.
These medical professionals are real experts in the musculoskeletal system. They provide patients with diagnosis, treatment, and prevention advice. Many orthopedists specialize in specific body parts, such as foot and ankle, neck and spine, hips and knee, elbow, hand, wrist, etc.
Learn why you should visit some of the top-rated Jersey City orthopedists.
Reasons to see an orthopedic doctor
The most frequent reason why individuals decide to visit an orthopedist is pain. These physicians are experts in the musculoskeletal system and understand how different joints work.
The musculoskeletal system includes muscles, bones, nerves, tendons, ligaments, cartilage, joints, and connective tissue. Find out more useful information about the human musculoskeletal system.
There is a multitude of musculoskeletal injuries and conditions that trigger pain, which can be diagnosed by an orthopedic doctor. These professionals treat pain in the knee, hips, shoulders, wrists, elbows, ankles, feet, back, and neck.
Not only pain but also swelling is responsible for experiencing a limited motion range. When your range of motion is limited, it might become too painful for you to handle your everyday tasks.
Nevertheless, Jersey City orthopedic doctors can determine the right treatment for improving your motion range, which is mainly accomplished with the help of PT. In some cases, surgery is inevitable for patients to restore their normal movements.
Orthopedic doctors are capable of treating injuries and preventing specific injuries from happening in the first place. The usual reasons why individuals seek assistance from such physicians include stress fractures, broken bones, dislocations, compression fractures, tendon tears, and muscle injuries.
Follow this URL, https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/173312, to gain a better understanding of the types, causes, and symptoms of fractures. In fact, many athletes work with orthopedists to improve their performance by learning how to prevent such injuries.
For instance, certain athletes are at high risk of shoulder dislocation. From the moment they experience such dislocation, they are more likely to sustain future dislocations.
Nevertheless, orthopedic therapy can prove to be extremely helpful in preventing any dislocations in the future. In contrast, orthopedic surgeons are the right medical professionals to repair broken bones to alleviate pain and improve normal function.
Moreover, these surgeons often collaborate with other experienced therapists like rehabilitation doctors and physical therapists to provide the best treatment for patients. Such specialists can address a wide range of injuries, including fractures, tendon injuries, ankle sprains, meniscus tears, tennis elbow, labral shoulder tears, stress fractures, etc.
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In addition, orthopedists are known for the treatment of musculoskeletal conditions that influence the nerves, bones, muscles, connective tissues, and joints. Such conditions include arthritis, bursitis, tumors, osteoporosis, etc.
They are usually chronic, meaning they might last for months or years. Unfortunately, the character of these medical conditions is mainly progressive, meaning they have a tendency to worsen over time. Generally, they take a turn for the worse when not treated.
The causes of orthopedic conditions are numerous. Some are caused by age, while others are genetic. Luckily, there are several effective treatments for the most severe chronic conditions. The role of orthopedic therapy is vital in the treatment of all orthopedic conditions.
The treatment plans vary across patients, depending on factors like the severity of the condition, age, lifestyle, and overall health. PT is usually the first treatment option.
Orthopedists can also determine if a patient needs surgery, as such a solution is not always necessary. Surgery is only recommended if nonsurgical treatment fails to provide the expected results. Orthopedic specialists are skilled in performing both surgical and non-surgical procedures.
Surgery procedures involve joint replacement surgery, arthroscopy, spinal surgery, soft tissue repair, disc replacement surgery, bone removal, bone fracture repair, etc. In contrast, non-surgical treatment options include fluid drainage, various injections, joint manipulation, extracorporeal shock wave therapy, and others.
What about orthopedic physical therapy?
As already mentioned, such physical therapy is included in almost every orthopedic treatment. It provides care for the entire musculoskeletal system. A therapist who excels in the field of orthopedics can not only evaluate your condition but diagnose the problem you have.
Furthermore, he/ she will determine the correct diagnosis, devise a treatment plan, administer therapeutic care, and teach you how to prevent future injuries. Read here what orthopedic physical therapy involves and whether it helps patients.
Such physical therapists can treat virtually any condition that affects the ability of patients to move and function normally in everyday life. PT can treat arthritis, bursitis, knee instability, cancer, joint pain, Lyme disease, Parkinson’s disease, frozen shoulder, lymphedema, scoliosis, stroke, spinal stenosis, muscular dystrophy, etc.
In many cases, orthopedic physical therapy is recommended as part of the rehabilitation process after having surgery. It can minimize pain, normalize walking, improve the motion range, and prevent the buildup of excessive star tissue. Patients are usually recommended such therapy after hip replacement, knee replacement, heart or cancer surgery.
Such PT is also common in the rehabilitation process after an acute injury, such as spraining your ankle or tearing your meniscus. It can manage swelling and pain, rebuild your strength, improve your motion range, etc.
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To sum up
Do not postpone your visit to an orthopedist, as most issues worsen if left untreated!
