If you feel pain or stiffness when you raise your arm above your head, you’re far from alone. According to estimates, 460,000 Americans have surgery for a rotator cuff injury each year. The term “rotator cuff” refers to a group of tendons and muscles that surround the shoulder blade. Fortunately,...
If you experience knee pain regularly, you may be considering surgery. However, you might not be sure whether you should get surgery or not. In some cases, surgery can be avoided by losing weight, removing possible sources of inflammation, and taking pills or applying creams. If conservative methods don’t reduce...
The carpal tunnel is a narrow passage in the wrist through which tendons and the median nerve pass. The median nerve controls movements of the palm and base of the thumb and provides feeling to the fingers. Carpal tunnel syndrome, also referred to as median nerve compression, occurs when the...
Arthrosis, often referred to as osteoarthritis, is the most common type of arthritis. According to estimates, 32.5 American adults suffer from osteoarthritis. With arthritis and osteoarthritis, the cartilage that covers the end of your bones either becomes damaged or disappears altogether. As a result, friction is increased, causing bones to...
Spine surgery can be a saving grace if you have been dealing with long, uninterrupted bouts of pain with little to no relief. However, we offer minimally invasive surgery, which is less damaging to muscles and soft tissue, less pain after surgery, quicker recovery, and return to daily activities. These...
Your rotator cuff isn’t just one muscle or tendon. It’s actually four muscles that form a "cuff" over the head of your upper arm bone (i.e., your humerus). These muscles — supraspinatus, infraspinatus, subscapularis, and teres minor— play a pivotal role in enabling you to lift and rotate your arm....
Your shoulder joint allows some of your greatest movements. Problems in the use of your shoulder joint cause restrictions in leading a full and productive life. Learn how orthopedic treatments offer hope and healing to many shoulder injuries and conditions. Complex Shoulder Anatomy Your shoulder joints deserve specialized care because of...
Any surgery can be daunting. Thankfully, knowing what to expect and how to prepare for your procedure makes it a lot easier to get through. If you are scheduled for hand surgery, it is essential to follow your surgeon’s recommendations to help you get through it as quickly as possible. These recommendations...
Your hands give you the ability to interact with the world. Whether creating a masterpiece or reaching out to those you love, hands provide connections to what is valued most. It is vital to keep your hands in optimal working condition. Guard yourself against these common causes for hand and...
You never realize how much you rely on your hips functioning the way they should until one or both of them hurt. Suddenly, everyday tasks are difficult or even impossible to manage. While millions of people across the United States experience hip pain, causes vary widely. Here are five of...
Winter is a wonderful time of year. Some people think of building snowmen, playing hockey and cozying up next to the fireplace. Others think of shoveling snow, slipping on the ice and injuring themselves. Quite a few would agree with the latter statement. It is estimated that 116,000 people are injured due...
Everyone, at some point in their life, experiences lower back pain, whether mild or severe. We don't always know when the pain requires medical attention, or just some stretches and painkillers. Many practices can help you get rid of that irritating back tenderness. Mid Atlantic Orthopedic Associates is a practice made...
Advances in surgical technology and techniques have come a long way, and having surgery is less invasive than ever. Recovery times have also improved, but there is no getting around the fact that a surgeon is cutting into your body with a knife or a laser in some form. That...
Unfortunately, spinal injuries are very common and can occur quite easily. About 200,000 people live with spinal injuries in the United States today. The leading causes of this type of injury are different forms of trauma. Let’s take a closer look to see if you are at risk for spinal...
You may have heard people talk about bone fractures and broken bones. The terms are actually interchangeable and both refer to a bone that has been shattered, often by excessive force. Your doctor may be more likely to use the term fracture. To be frank, the term fracture is more...
Warm days and sunny skies entice us to be outside. The long days of summer give us an excuse to stay outside for long periods of time doing all sorts of activities. Swimming, hiking, biking, running, boating and gardening are just some of the activities that you can enjoy during...
The knee is one of the most common body parts to be injured. Even if you are extremely careful, you still could be at risk for knee injuries depending on how active you are and if you have any pre-existing conditions. Let’s take a look at what could put you...
Fewer things bug an athlete more than an injury. The worst, of course, comes when you injure a body part that is one of the main appendages you use in your sport. A soccer player hates leg injuries and a baseball pitcher hates elbow injuries. In tennis, one of the...
The rainy season is coming up, and it won’t be long before the roads and the pavements are slick as an ice skating rink. Just one misplaced step and you could seriously injure yourself, so to prevent that from occurring, here are some tips for staying on your feet in...
Some say that you can’t have fun without a little bit of risk, and for skiing, that might be true. Skiing is an enormously exciting activity, but there's always going to be some danger involved. However, that doesn’t mean that there aren’t ways to enjoy skiing without making it as...
Having orthopedic surgery? Not to worry, orthopedic surgery is an incredibly safe procedure done by well trained specialists. However, it can still be intimidating, especially if you’re unprepared for the operation. To help the surgery go more smoothly and to make life easier during your recovery, here are some tips to remember...
During the winter months, you will often need to wake up early before work to shovel the snow that has accumulated overnight on your driveway. While shoveling snow is often seen as just another simple chore, there are serious risks involved. The following are some tips for properly shoveling snow without injuring...
Workers compensation has long been an efficient method of both guaranteeing employees reimbursement for lost income after a job related injury or illness as well as providing for any associated medical expenses. The policy protects working men and women from unmanageable medical debt and financial straits resulting from a workplace...
Fall is here and that’s good news. The changing leaves, the crisp air, the start of a new school year and, of course, the holidays are all great reasons to look forward to this season. Remember, though, that as the weather cools down, we once again need to begin figuring...
Our hands are important to everything we do in life. Without proper function, we couldn't eat, dress, work, or do other tasks and activities. This is why it is important we take care of them. Hand and wrist problems occur and for a plethora of reasons. When they do, we have...
Joint pain is something that affects millions of people all over the world, and for many of them, relief of any kind is a blessing. From stiff fingers to inflamed knees to swollen elbows, joint pain can take hold almost anywhere on the body, and one factor that usually makes...
When we’re young, our body replaces bone material at a fast rate. This constant renewal keeps our bones healthy and strong. As we age, this replacement rate slows down to the point where we can actually start to lose bone mass. If this condition gets too severe, we are left...
Developing some type of hip pain is pretty common as you get older. Joints don’t work like they used to, and there is always the chance you are starting to develop minor arthritis. That being said, some hip pain can actually be a symptom of more serious conditions, and those...
Wrist and hand fractures are some of the most common injuries that we treat. As some of the most frequently used parts of the body, your hands and wrists are prone and susceptible to various types of chronic and acute pain. If you suspect that you may have a hand or...
It’s impossible to over exaggerate the importance of our feet. These body parts literally take us everywhere we need to go, and when something is not right with your foot it doesn’t take that long to figure it out. Foot pains can make going through your daily activities unpleasant, and...
You’ve probably heard about your spinal cord before. This part of your body is massively important, which is why you should know what it does! Read on to discover the role it plays in your daily life. A Hub of Activity Your central nervous system is comprised of your brain and spinal...
Knee injuries are much more common than most people think. Here are some of the top knee injuries we see at Mid-Atlantic Orthopedic Associates. If you suffer from one of these, come in and see us for relief. Osteoarthritis Many patients around the world suffer from knee osteoarthritis (OA). In fact, knee...
Most of us have done it at some point: moved the wrong way or landed wrong from a fall or jump and ended up hurting our ankle. Because of the weight put on this important area of our body, it’s a relatively easy place to get hurt. And, depending on the...
Does the use of a walking aid like a cane no longer alleviate your hip pain? Do you find yourself losing mobility and sleep because of joint stiffness? If you can’t seem to get rid of pain, even when you are inactive, resting or in humid weather, it may be...
As the colder temperatures and snowy weather begin to set in, it’s time once again to talk about personal injury prevention in the winter. All homeowners should take steps to ensure that walkways and driveways are prepped for injury prevention, and everyone should take proper precautions with their outerwear and...
If you break a bone, it’s imperative that you get it treated. Regardless of where the fracture took place in the body, the stress of a broken bone can be quite substantial, which means that you have to act sooner rather than later. For the most part, bones are exceptionally...
If you're an athlete, there's always at least a small chance of you getting hurt. In the blink of an eye, you could suddenly twist an ankle or pull a muscle. While minor bruises and scars often heal within a few days, more serious injuries will require medical attention. Here are some...
Your feet and ankles are home to about a fourth of all of your bones as well as numerous muscles, tendons and nerves. Each component of your feet and ankles works together to support your body and help you move comfortably throughout the day, but because they are used so...
Osteoporosis is a condition characterized by bones that have more empty spaces and less actual bone than is normal. The empty spaces result in a decrease in total bone mass, weakening the bones and making them fragile. One in three women and one in five men will suffer a fractured bone caused...
Research shows the average person will have at least two bone fractures during their life. Although bone fractures are rather common, they are still quite misunderstood. Here are some facts to give you a better understanding of a bone fracture. What’s a Bone Fracture? A fracture is essentially a broken bone. However,...
Spine problems can cause chronic, debilitating pain. There are several factors that might place you at a greater risk of developing back pain that is caused by spinal problems. While some of the risk factors for spine problems are unavoidable, others are within your control. By understanding the risk factors, you...
Hip discomfort can have a big impact on your ability to enjoy life. Simple everyday activities, such as getting out of the bed and walking to the mailbox, can become difficult. If the chronic pain becomes too unbearable, a hip replacement may be necessary. Here’s what you need to know about hip...
A broken arm will definitely take some time to heal. However, simply sitting around being sedentary is not a good idea. Exercising regularly is among the most important aspects of maintaining good health. Furthermore, the enhanced blood circulation actually promotes quicker healing. Here are some tips to stay active with a broken...
Knee pain is a common problem, especially as people age. A sedentary lifestyle can aggravate knee problems by not allowing the joint and the muscles around it to strengthen. Being overweight can also put extra stress on the knees. Fortunately, there are some simple exercises and stretches that you can do...
Strong shoulders are much more than just an attractive physical feature. There are many smaller muscles in the shoulder area that provide support and stability for the biceps and triceps. If these muscles are not kept strong, they can become unstable and lead to physical injuries. Injuries to any of...
Whether you are casually walking down the street or playing a game of softball, your knees are always hard at work. They play a critical role in your overall mobility. Chronic knee problems will ultimately make your life a lot more stressful. Here are some of the key signs that...
A total hip replacement is a serious operation. This type of surgery is very difficult and risky, and the recovery period is also long and arduous. Patients should be fully informed about the risks associated with this procedure. Medical intervention is an excellent option when the case is severe enough,...
Arthritis remains one of the most common causes of joint pain and disability throughout the United States. It is estimated that approximately 350 million people around the world suffer from arthritis of one form or another. At times, pain and limited movement can lead patients to seek joint replacement surgeries...
Pain specialists are often asked how to tell the difference between shoulder and neck pain. This is an important clinical question, and patients are also invested in understanding the difference between these two distinct types of problems. The treatment plan will depend on the diagnosis of the problem, so it...
Current statistics indicate that approximately 44 million adults in the United States have osteoporosis or low bone mass that can eventually lead to this disease. Osteoporosis is a common problem in adults aged 55 years and older. Osteoporosis can make it much more likely for an older adult to suffer...
There are more than 100 different types of arthritis, and it can affect people of all ages. The two most common types of arthritis are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Osteoarthritis may develop because of infections or injuries to the joints that exacerbate the breakdown of cartilage located in them. People...
When injuries or malformations are severe or conditions of the joints and musculoskeletal system don’t respond to conservative treatment, orthopedic surgery is an option that can often relieve pain and restore normal function. Here is a closer look at five common orthopedic surgeries. 1. Knee Replacement Surgery Replacement of the knee joint...
Arthritis is a health condition that inflicts thousands of people with pain and stiffness in the joints, especially among the elderly. Although there is a genetic component that can alter your likelihood of developing arthritis, anyone can develop this condition. However, even a genetic predisposition doesn't guarantee that you'll develop...
The natural instinct of most runners is to head off on whatever surface is nearby. That could be the green grass of the neighborhood park, the wood chips that make up a local trail, the roads of the marathon that you've been training for, the sidewalks of your busy neighborhood...
Each day, Your body makes a variety of movements. As bone, muscles, ligaments, and tendons become worn and damaged, you may develop certain ailments that require orthopedic care. At Mid Atlantic, we specialize in the recovery process. Here are three of the most common injuries that occur from sporting accidents,...