Orthopedics is the medical field that focuses on diseases and conditions that affect your musculoskeletal system. This includes your:
bones
muscles
ligaments and tendons
joints
nerves
People often visit an orthopedic doctor when they’re injured or when they have a chronic condition, such as arthritis or lower back pain.
In this article, we’ll take a deeper dive into what orthopedic doctors do, the conditions they treat, and how to find the right orthopedic doctor for you.
Orthopedic Doctors
An orthopedic doctor specializes in diagnosing and treating problems with the bones, joints, muscles, and ligaments. They may also be called an orthopedist.
Orthopedic doctors usually treat conditions that result from injuries or diseases. For example, they may treat:
Fractures– broken bones
Dislocated joints – when the ends of bones don’t line up properly
Arthritis – a disease that causes swelling and pain in joints
Osteoporosis – a condition that causes bones to become brittle and weak
Back pain
Some orthopedic doctors also treat congenital conditions. Examples include:
Scoliosis – an abnormal curvature of the spine
Clubfoot – a congenital deformity in which the foot turns inward and downward