Throughout the course of an entire lifetime, an individual will have to go to the doctor for a variety of reasons. Once or twice a year, you have medical check-ups with a doctor about the state of your health. Other times, you go to the doctor to get injuries treated. And yet others, to seek treatment for illnesses. It’s common knowledge that there are many different branches of medicine and health care, and for some ailments you will need to go to a specialist who will help you address any problems you may have.
Have you ever had any issues with muscle strains or joint pains? How about injuries relating to the bones or any other part of the skeleton? If so, you’re one of thousands of people who may have had or needed to have orthopaedic care. And for the rest of us, it’s not an unusual occurrence– you may need to get checked by an orthopaedist a few times in your life!
The human body isn’t exactly the most well-built in terms of our skeletal structure. We are prone to many spinal injuries, and our bones grow brittle and frail with age. Orthopaedic clinics help us combat this with proper treatment and care for our bodies.
What is orthopedics?
One such branch of medicine is concerned with the musculoskeletal system. The musculoskeletal system is made up of not only the muscles and bones, but the tendons, joints, ligaments, and other parts of the body that make up this incredibly complex system. Just think of it as the structure that houses all the important parts of your body, providing the foundation for everything else. Without everything in good working order here, your ability to enjoy a healthy and active lifestyle may be extremely restricted. The musculoskeletal system allows you to move your body with ease. Running, jumping, swimming– you can thank it for allowing you to do this.
Orthopaedics helps everyone, not just people who live active lifestyles. Due to the importance of the musculoskeletal system, it also helps people who suffer from major conditions affecting that part of their bodies, like for example arthritis. Arthritis is a condition that makes the joints swell up and become tender. This is a very common condition that affects many elderly people.
Orthopaedics also helps treat people who suffered from injuries, both minor and serious ones alike. For example, bone fractures and torn ligaments are both orthopedic injuries that need serious care and attention.
No matter what kind of person you are, whether you’re an active individual, someone who has a lifelong condition, someone suffering from an illness or injury, or just a regular person, the branch of orthopedics will be of value to you someday.
Orthopedists and you
Not all orthopaedists are created equal. You might not be surprised to hear this, but in the field of orthopaedics, there are several different subtypes of doctors. You need to take a careful look at which kind of orthopaedist you might need. Some are generalists, ones you go to for generic concerns, while others are specialists. Some are more knowledgeable about certain parts of the body, like the shoulders and elbows, the hands, the spine and back, and in the case of the Specialist Orthopaedic Centre, the knees, feet, and ankle. If you’ve got special concerns about any of these areas, it might be wise to consult a specialist before anything else.
There’s also a difference between those that offer general treatment and those that can perform orthopaedic procedures. Let’s take a look at them.
Orthopaedist vs. orthopaedic surgeon
Generally speaking, orthopaedists are doctors who specialise in the diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of musculoskeletal conditions in patients. Orthopaedists identify the problem and help treat it, by administering medicine, providing braces, casts, or crutches, and reset bones. You consult them to help treat you, but not all of them can perform surgical procedures. They may recommend you for it, or recommend you for other treatments if necessary.
Orthopaedic surgeons are like regular orthopaedists, able to perform all the above tasks as well as being able to do surgical procedures if necessary. They can look at your condition and determine whether surgery is required for your condition and also be responsible for post-surgical needs.
What kind of surgeries can an orthopaedic surgeon do?
As long as it is related to the musculoskeletal system, there might be something that an orthopaedic surgeon can do. If you suffer from joint pains, there are surgeries to replace them with artificial joints. Hip replacements are also popular. Even tissue repair is an option. There are even some to repair foot fractures.
Need help with foot, ankle, or knee issues? Visit Specialist Orthopaedic Centre, a clinic in Singapore that specializes in addressing orthopaedic issues in the foot. Visit our site and book an appointment today.