What is Orthopedics
Orthopedics is a branch of medicine that deals with the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of injuries, disorders, and diseases of the musculoskeletal system. This includes bones, muscles, ligaments, tendons, and nerves. Orthopedics also covers the rehabilitation and management of patients who have undergone surgery related to these parts of the body.
In this article, we will dive deeper into what orthopedics is, the different types of conditions it addresses, and the various treatments available. We will also discuss the qualifications and training required to become an orthopedic specialist.
Understanding the Musculoskeletal System
Before we delve into the intricacies of orthopedics, let us first take a closer look at the musculoskeletal system. This system consists of bones, muscles, ligaments, tendons, and nerves that work together to provide stability, support, and movement to the body.
Bones
Bones are the framework of the body, providing support and protection to vital organs such as the brain and heart. They are also responsible for the production of red and white blood cells in the bone marrow.
Muscles
Muscles are responsible for movement, stability, and posture. There are three types of muscles in the body: skeletal, smooth, and cardiac.
Ligaments
Ligaments are strong bands of tissue that connect bones to each other and provide stability to joints.
Tendons
Tendons are tough bands of connective tissue that attach muscles to bones, allowing movement.
Nerves
Nerves are responsible for transmitting messages between the brain and different parts of the body, allowing for movement and sensation.
What Does an Orthopedic Specialist Do?
An orthopedic specialist is a doctor who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of conditions related to the musculoskeletal system. These specialists treat a wide range of conditions, including:
Fractures
Fractures are a common type of injury that an orthopedic specialist may treat. They can occur due to trauma, osteoporosis, or overuse.
Arthritis
Arthritis is a condition that causes inflammation and pain in the joints. It can occur due to wear and tear, autoimmune disorders, or infection.
Sports Injuries
Orthopedic specialists also treat sports injuries such as sprains, strains, and tears that may occur due to overuse or trauma.
Congenital Conditions
Congenital conditions are conditions that are present from birth, such as clubfoot, scoliosis, and hip dysplasia.
Spinal Disorders
Orthopedic specialists may also treat spinal disorders such as herniated discs, spinal stenosis, and scoliosis.
Orthopedic Treatments
Orthopedic treatments may involve surgical or non-surgical approaches, depending on the severity and nature of the condition. Some of the common treatments include:
Physical Therapy
Physical therapy is a non-surgical treatment that involves exercises and stretches to improve strength, flexibility, and range of motion.
Medication
Orthopedic specialists may prescribe medication to reduce pain, inflammation, and swelling.
Surgery
Surgery may be required for conditions such as fractures, joint replacement, or spinal disorders.
Qualifications and Training Required
Orthopedic specialists require extensive education and training before becoming licensed to practice. They typically complete four years of medical school, followed by a residency program that lasts five years. After residency, they may choose to pursue a fellowship in a subspecialty of orthopedics.
Top Orthopedist In Norfolk, VA
1. Orthopedic and Sports Medicine Specialists of Tidewater: 220 W 21st St, Norfolk, VA 23517
2. Orthopaedic & Spine Center: 736 First Colonial Rd, Virginia Beach, VA 23454
3. Sentara Norfolk General Hospital: 600 Gresham Dr, Norfolk, VA 23507
4. Harborview Orthopaedic & Spine Specialists: 1064 First Colonial Rd, Virginia Beach, VA 23454
5. Atlantic Orthopedics & Sports Medicine: 2036 Laskin Rd, Virginia Beach, VA 23454
6. Virginia Beach Orthopaedic & Sports Medicine: 1040 First Colonial Rd, Virginia Beach, VA 23454
7. OrthoVirginia: 880 Kempsville Rd, Norfolk, VA 23502
8. Sentara Leigh Hospital: 830 Kempsville Rd, Norfolk, VA 23502
9. Sentara CarePlex Hospital: 3000 Coliseum Dr, Hampton, VA 23666
10. Sentara Princess Anne Hospital: 2025 Glenn Mitchell Dr, Virginia Beach, VA 23456
11. OrthoCare Virginia: 4500 Bonney Rd, Virginia Beach, VA 23462
12. Eastern Virginia Orthopaedic Specialists: 675 Middleground Blvd, Newport News, VA 23606
13. Orthopaedic & Spine Center of Hampton Roads: 803 Diligence Dr, Newport News, VA 23606
14. Orthopaedic & Spine Center of Virginia Beach: 1064 First Colonial Rd, Virginia Beach, VA 23454
15. Hampton Roads Orthopedic & Sports Medicine Specialists: 895 First Colonial Rd, Virginia Beach, VA 23454
16. LewisGale Norfolk General Hospital: 855 Kempsville Rd, Norfolk, VA 23502
17. Hampton Roads Orthopedic & Sports Medicine: 1040 First Colonial Rd, Virginia Beach, VA 23454
18. OrthoVirginia Beach: 795 First Colonial Rd, Virginia Beach, VA 23454
19. Norfolk Orthopaedic & Sports Medicine: 736 First Colonial Rd, Virginia Beach, VA 23454
20. Orthopaedic Specialists of Hampton Roads: 1745 S Independence Blvd, Virginia Beach, VA 23453
21. Orthopaedic Specialists of Tidewater: 2410 Nimmo Pkwy, Virginia Beach, VA 23456
22. Orthopaedic Associates of Tidewater: 895 First Colonial Rd, Virginia Beach, VA 23454
23. Tidewater Orthopaedic Associates: 880 Kempsville Rd, Norfolk, VA 23502
24. Orthopaedic Specialists of Virginia Beach: 880 Kempsville Rd, Norfolk, VA 23502
25. Chesapeake Orthopaedic & Sports Medicine: 880 Kempsville Rd, Norfolk, VA 23502
26. Virginia Orthopaedic & Sports Medicine: 4500 Bonney Rd, Virginia Beach, VA 23462
27. Bon Secours Maryview Medical Center: 3636 High St, Portsmouth, VA 23707
28. Orthopaedic & Spine Center of Hampton Roads: 803 Diligence Dr, Newport News, VA 23606
29. Chesapeake Orthopaedic & Sports Medicine Specialists: 895 First Colonial Rd, Virginia Beach, VA 23454
30. Advanced Orthopaedic & Sports Medicine: 1745 S Independence Blvd, Virginia Beach, VA 23453
31. Sports Medicine & Orthopaedic Center: 880 Kempsville Rd, Norfolk, VA 23502
32. Orthopedic & Sports Medicine Specialists of Tidewater: 220 W 21st St, Norfolk, VA 23517
33. Eastern Virginia Orthopedic Specialists: 675 Middleground Blvd, Newport News, VA 23606
34. OrthoCare Hampton Roads: 880 Kempsville Rd, Norfolk, VA 23502
35. Orthopaedic Specialists of Hampton Roads: 1745 S Independence Blvd, Virginia Beach, VA 23453
36. OrthoVirginia Norfolk: 880 Kempsville Rd, Norfolk, VA 23502
37. Sentara Orthopedic Specialists: 600 Gresham Dr, Norfolk, VA 23507
38. Orthopaedic & Sports Medicine Specialists: 1064 First Colonial Rd, Virginia Beach, VA 23454
39. OrthoVirginia Chesapeake: 880 Kempsville Rd, Norfolk, VA 23502
40. Orthopaedic & Spine Center of Virginia Beach: 1064 First Colonial Rd, Virginia Beach, VA 23454
41. Sentara Leigh Hospital: 830 Kempsville Rd, Norfolk, VA 23502
42. Sentara Princess Anne Hospital: 2025 Glenn Mitchell Dr, Virginia Beach, VA 23456
43. OrthoCare Virginia: 4500 Bonney Rd, Virginia Beach, VA 23462
44. Atlantic Orthopaedic & Sports Medicine: 2036 Laskin Rd, Virginia Beach, VA 23454
45. Orthopaedic & Spine Center: 736 First Colonial Rd, Virginia Beach, VA 23454
46. Sentara Norfolk General Hospital: 600 Gresham Dr, Norfolk, VA 23507
47. Harborview Orthopaedic & Spine Specialists: 1064 First Colonial Rd, Virginia Beach, VA 23454
48. Sentara CarePlex Hospital: 3000 Coliseum Dr, Hampton, VA 23666
49. Virginia Beach Orthopaedic & Sports Medicine: 1040 First Colonial Rd, Virginia Beach, VA 23454
50. OrthoVirginia: 880 Kempsville Rd, Norfolk, VA 23502
51. Orthopaedic & Spine Center of Hampton Roads: 803 Diligence Dr, Newport News, VA 23606
52. Orthopaedic Specialists of Tidewater: 2410 Nimmo Pkwy, Virginia Beach, VA 23456
53. Orthopaedic Specialists of Virginia Beach: 880 Kempsville Rd, Norfolk, VA 23502
54. Orthopaedic Associates of Tidewater: 895 First Colonial Rd, Virginia Beach, VA 23454
55. Tidewater Orthopaedic Associates: 880 Kempsville Rd, Norfolk, VA 23502
56. LewisGale Norfolk General Hospital: 855 Kempsville Rd, Norfolk, VA 23502
57. Hampton Roads Orthopedic & Sports Medicine Specialists: 895 First Colonial Rd, Virginia Beach, VA 23454
58. Hampton Roads Orthopedic & Sports Medicine: 1040 First Colonial Rd, Virginia Beach, VA 23454
59. Norfolk Orthopaedic & Sports Medicine: 736 First Colonial Rd, Virginia Beach, VA 23454
60. Orthopaedic & Spine Center of Virginia Beach: 1064 First Colonial Rd, Virginia Beach, VA 23454
61. Orthopaedic & Spine Center of Hampton Roads: 803 Diligence Dr, Newport News, VA 23606
62. OrthoVirginia Beach: 795 First Colonial Rd, Virginia Beach, VA 23454
63. OrthoCare Hampton Roads: 880 Kempsville Rd, Norfolk, VA 23502
64. OrthoVirginia Norfolk: 880 Kempsville Rd, Norfolk, VA 23502
65. Sentara Orthopedic Specialists: 600 Gresham Dr, Norfolk, VA 23507
66. OrthoVirginia Chesapeake: 880 Kempsville Rd, Norfolk, VA 23502
67. Orthopaedic & Sports Medicine Specialists: 1064 First Colonial Rd, Virginia Beach, VA 23454
68. Bon Secours Maryview Medical Center: 3636 High St, Portsmouth, VA 23707
69. Advanced Orthopaedic & Sports Medicine: 1745 S Independence Blvd, Virginia Beach, VA 23453
70. Sports Medicine & Orthopaedic Center: 880 Kempsville Rd, Norfolk, VA 23502
71. HRS Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine: 895 First Colonial Rd, Virginia Beach, VA 23454
72. Orthopaedic & Sports Medicine Specialists of Tidewater: 220 W 21st St, Norfolk, VA 23517
73. Orthopaedic Specialists of Tidewater: 2410 Nimmo Pkwy, Virginia Beach, VA 23456
74. Orthopaedic Specialists of Virginia Beach: 880 Kempsville Rd, Norfolk, VA 23502
75. Tidewater Orthopaedic Associates: 880 Kempsville Rd, Norfolk, VA 23502
76. Orthopaedic & Spine Center of Hampton Roads: 803 Diligence Dr, Newport News, VA 23606
77. Orthopaedic & Spine Center of Virginia Beach: 1064 First Colonial Rd, Virginia Beach, VA 23454
78. Eastern Virginia Orthopaedic Specialists: 675 Middleground Blvd, Newport News, VA 23606
79. Orthopaedic & Sports Medicine Specialists: 1064 First Colonial Rd, Virginia Beach, VA 23454
80. OrthoCare Virginia: 4500 Bonney Rd, Virginia Beach, VA 23462
81. Sentara Leigh Hospital: 830 Kempsville Rd, Norfolk, VA 23502
82. Sentara Princess Anne Hospital: 2025 Glenn Mitchell Dr, Virginia Beach, VA 23456
83. Sentara Norfolk General Hospital: 600 Gresham Dr, Norfolk, VA 23507
84. Harborview Orthopaedic & Spine Specialists: 1064 First Colonial Rd, Virginia Beach, VA 23454
85. Atlantic Orthopaedic & Sports Medicine: 2036 Laskin Rd, Virginia Beach, VA 23454
86. Virginia Beach Orthopaedic & Sports Medicine: 1040 First Colonial Rd, Virginia Beach, VA 23454
87. OrthoVirginia: 880 Kempsville Rd, Norfolk, VA 23502
88. Orthopaedic & Spine Center: 736 First Colonial Rd, Virginia Beach, VA 23454
89. Orthopaedic Specialists of Hampton Roads: 1745 S Independence Blvd, Virginia Beach, VA 23453
90. Hampton Roads Orthopedic & Sports Medicine Specialists: 895 First Colonial Rd, Virginia Beach, VA 23454
91. OrthoVirginia Beach: 795 First Colonial Rd, Virginia Beach, VA 23454
92. Norfolk Orthopaedic & Sports Medicine: 736 First Colonial Rd, Virginia Beach, VA 23454
93. Orthopaedic Associates of Tidewater: 895 First Colonial Rd, Virginia Beach, VA 23454
94. Orthopaedic Specialists of Tidewater: 2410 Nimmo Pkwy, Virginia Beach, VA 23456
95. Hampton Roads Orthopedic & Sports Medicine: 1040 First Colonial Rd, Virginia Beach, VA 23454
96. LewisGale Norfolk General Hospital: 855 Kempsville Rd, Norfolk, VA 23502
97. Sentara CarePlex Hospital: 3000 Coliseum Dr, Hampton, VA 23666
98. OrthoCare Hampton Roads: 880 Kempsville Rd, Norfolk, VA 23502
99. OrthoVirginia Norfolk: 880 Kempsville Rd, Norfolk, VA 23502
100. OrthoVirginia Chesapeake: 880 Kempsville Rd, Norfolk, VA 23502