New publications
Orthopedist
Last reviewed: 03.07.2025
All iLive content is medically reviewed or fact checked to ensure as much factual accuracy as possible.
We have strict sourcing guidelines and only link to reputable media sites, academic research institutions and, whenever possible, medically peer reviewed studies. Note that the numbers in parentheses ([1], [2], etc.) are clickable links to these studies.
If you feel that any of our content is inaccurate, out-of-date, or otherwise questionable, please select it and press Ctrl + Enter.
[ Who is an orthopedist?
An orthopedist is a doctor who treats musculoskeletal disorders caused by malformations or diseases. A pediatric orthopedist studies the causes of congenital bone and muscle pathologies, eliminates deformities, and restores the functions of the musculoskeletal system. Both conservative treatment methods (exercise therapy, physiotherapy, orthopedic insoles, corsets, splints, prostheses, plaster casts, manual therapy) and surgical operations are used: osteotomies, tendon transplants.
An orthopedist undergoes training in residency or postgraduate studies at a medical university. The course includes studying disaster surgery, prosthetics, and rehabilitation. Orthopedists work in endoprosthetics clinics, rehabilitation centers, orthopedic sanatoriums, and outpatient clinics. Orthopedics is one of the most complex and in-demand medical specialties. The greatest number of patients become disabled due to diseases of the musculoskeletal system.
Examinations by a pediatric orthopedist are mandatory at 1, 3, 9 months of life and before entering kindergarten. It is imperative to contact a pediatric orthopedist if a schoolchild has a posture disorder, when starting to play sports or dance, if everyday movements are difficult, coordination is impaired, the child is clumsy, if the feet hurt when walking. Any violation of posture and gait is within the competence of an orthopedic doctor.
Ukrainian orthopedists are increasingly undergoing internships in Western European countries. Modern achievements in orthopedics in our country allow for effective prevention and treatment of musculoskeletal diseases and rehabilitation after injuries. Some clinics provide medical services at the level of European clinics. There is an exchange of experience, internships and exchange programs.
Most orthopedic patients are treated in a polyclinic setting. Surgical intervention is not used as often as it seems at first glance.
What does an orthopedist do?
An orthopedist treats flat feet, scoliosis, the consequences of injuries, congenital malformations using exercise therapy, manual therapy or surgery. He treats clubfoot, torticollis, joint pathology, and corrects their abnormal position. An orthopedist treats injuries: sprains, bruises, dislocations, fractures, burns.
The spine pays for our ability to walk upright from the moment we take our first steps. Throughout life, it experiences enormous loads. An orthopedist also deals with problems of spinal pathology. The most common problem from childhood is scoliosis.
For children and adults with musculoskeletal diseases, an orthopedist can prescribe the manufacture of individual orthopedic insoles. He can also prescribe a course of therapeutic exercise, and carry out therapeutic measures for household and sports injuries.
In advanced cases, the patient is transferred to the hands of orthopedic surgeons who specialize in endoprosthetics (replacing a joint with an artificial one). It may be needed for a disease such as arthrosis, when the cartilage in the joint wears out, or for fractures, for example, of the femoral neck. The orthopedic doctor's competence also includes the treatment of neck and chest deformities. A pediatric orthopedist helps children with complications after cerebral palsy and poliomyelitis get back on their feet together with a neurologist. An orthopedic examination plays an important role in the prevention and treatment of hip dysplasia and congenital hip dislocation. An orthopedist also treats rheumatoid arthritis, arthrosis, bursitis - inflammatory and degenerative diseases of the joints.
If you have people with neurological diseases in your family, or if you have been injured in the past, had an accident, do not forget to see an orthopedist once a year. This will protect you from complications.
The orthopedist conducts an examination on the couch, evaluates the range of motion in the joint and prescribes an ultrasound of the joints, X-ray, MRI or CT.
The ancient Incas treated wounds and fractures, knew how to perform operations on the skull, correct dislocations and fuse bones.
With the development of orthopedics, the profession of an orthopedist has become high-tech. An orthopedist must have an engineering mindset, have golden hands, and be able to apply knowledge of body biomechanics in practice. Germany is a pioneer in the pace of orthopedic development today. A good orthopedist is responsible, has the skills of an engineer and a sculptor, has excellent fine motor skills and a pronounced inclination to work with his hands. The ability to empathize must be combined with determination. An orthopedist must be able to correctly decipher X-rays and MRI slices.
What diseases does an orthopedist treat?
We have the ability to walk and jump thanks to bones and joints. When we are young, they are very strong and flexible. But gradually age makes itself felt. And some people have congenital joint problems. There are several hundred orthopedic diagnoses today.
When to see an orthopedist:
- For pain in the wrists and shoulders.
- For pain in the knee and hip.
- For lower back pain.
- For foot pain.
- For problems with posture.
- For fractures, dislocations.
- If your joints crunch or hurt due to the weather.
With flat feet, the arches of the foot are lowered. Causes of flat feet: congenital weakness of the ligaments, excess weight. If your feet are very tired by the evening, your lower back hurts, your foot size increases, do not postpone going to the clinic. Treatment of flat feet is aimed at strengthening the muscles. Complete recovery is impossible.
Dysplasia, fractures and arthrosis most often lead to the need to replace joints. Endoprosthetics is a very complex operation performed by an orthopedic surgeon.
An orthopedist can also help with household injuries and mutilations.
A young, orthopedically related area of clinical medicine is vertebrology. A vertebrologist deals only with the spine: degenerative diseases, deformations and fractures of the spinal column. Surgical methods, traction, massage are used. Diagnostic methods include CT, MRI and ultrasound.
You need to see a vertebrologist if you have back pain that affects your activity or weakness in your limbs.
Advice from an orthopedic doctor
To prevent musculoskeletal diseases in schoolchildren, you need to follow some rules:
- Select desks according to the height of children.
- Have five-minute breaks in the middle of the lesson, during which children bend over, shake their hands, etc.
- The length of the seat should match the length of the child's hips.
- When sitting, the child's knee and thigh form a right angle.
- The child's back should rest against the back of the chair.
- An empty school backpack should not weigh more than 500 g, for a child in grades 1-3 the total weight of the backpack with textbooks and notebooks should not be more than 2 kg. For senior students - more than 3.5 kg. You should buy orthopedic backpacks with a rigid back. The backpack should be put on both straps at the same time.
- Neurological diseases and low physical activity, excess weight and improperly selected shoes often lead to the development of flat feet in preschool, primary and secondary school age. Ligaments stretch when walking on a flat surface. Also, exercises with walking on heels and toes are ineffective against flat feet. It is better to walk barefoot on pebbles. Shoes for primary school children are better to choose with a rigid back.
An orthopedist helps maintain physical activity from childhood to old age.