4 Signs You Should Ask About Orthopedic Services
Posted on: 31 October 2022
Orthopedic care is a field dedicated to treating a wide range of musculoskeletal conditions. If you're trying to figure out whether you should ask about orthopedic services, here are four signs you should.
Limited Range of Motion
Most people have a pretty good mental picture of how their various joints should move. If you're having trouble completing any of these motions on any part of your body, you need to ask about orthopedic care. For example, a person with shoulder issues might struggle to get a box of cereal down from a cupboard. If they're struggling just to get their arm up to even try to reach for the box, that's a sign that there's a musculoskeletal issue.
These issues can arise due to muscle damage, joint wear, inflammation, or even nerve damage. Also, they often don't improve with time. An orthopedic care professional can start the diagnostic process to determine what's going on and what the potential treatment options may be.
Pain
Whether or not you might experience other issues, pain is a potential sign of orthopedic care needs. Especially if you experience pain when a body part is in a specific position, that could be a sign of musculoskeletal concerns. For example, a muscle can get out of position and can entrap a nerve. You might only notice the problem, though, when the muscle is in a certain position.
You might also experience ongoing soreness or other pain. These are sometimes signs of soft tissue damage, arthritis, bursitis, or tendonitis. In some cases, they may indicate ligament, muscle, or cartilage tears. There is also a possibility the pain comes from bone cancer.
Deformations
If you have questions about deformations, an orthopedic services practice is a good place to start learning about what's going on. A person might have hammer toes or a club foot for a variety of reasons, and many of these are treatable. Spinal deformities are also worth discussing with an orthopedist.
Balance Issues
People's bodies are highly adaptable, but this isn't always a good thing. For example, a person who has knee damage might unconsciously learn how to walk with it. This can lead to an unbalanced gait. Also, this unbalanced motion can frequently create pressure on other body parts, and that can lead to a cascade of additional injuries and changes in the person's walk. It is a good idea to seek orthopedic care — such as South Shore Health — as soon as you suspect a problem so you can reduce the risk of follow-on issues.
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