According to the United States Bone and Joint Initiative, musculoskeletal disorders affect more than one out of every two people in the US age 18 and over, and nearly three out of four people age 65 and over. The musculoskeletal system provides support, posture and stability, permits movement, protects vital organs and circulates blood throughout the body. With 206 bones and approximately 650 muscles in the adult body, dysfunction, pain, or injury is almost unavoidable. When these problems arise, seeking treatment from a physician who specializes in orthopedics is your best option.
What is Orthopedics?
Orthopedics is an area of medicine that focuses on the diagnosis, treatment, prevention, and rehabilitation of injuries and diseases within the musculoskeletal system. Physicians in this particular field are called orthopedists, or orthopedic surgeons—they concentrate on disorders and injuries of the bones, cartilage, muscles, tendons, ligaments, nerves, and other connective tissue.
What is Sports Medicine?
Sports medicine is a subspecialty of orthopedic medicine that deals with the physical fitness, preventive care and treatment of amateur and professional athletes within the world of sports and exercise. This specialty also treats those with disabilities who are trying to increase their capabilities and mobility and those who have suffered an injury and are trying to regain full function.
The Role of the Orthopedist
Orthopedists use specialized medical, surgical, physical and rehabilitative methods to treat a large variety of acute and chronic conditions relating to the musculoskeletal system. They treat people of all ages, from newborn to the elderly, and handle everything from treating something as simple as a pulled muscle to performing a complicated procedure such as spinal surgery.
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