ORTHOPEDIC FACTS: - Injuries to the musculoskeletal system or conditions like arthritis and osteoporosis are the number one reason for visits to the doctor's office. - One in seven Americans suffer from a musculoskeletal impairment. - It costs $215 billion a year to treat musculoskeletal disorders. - Arthritis is the leading chronic condition in the elderly. - Back or spine injuries are the most common musculoskeletal problem.

O r t h o p e d i c s Orthopedics is the medical specialty devoted to the diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation and prevention of injuries and diseases of your body's musculoskeletal system. Your musculoskeletal system consists of the complex workings of your bones, joints, ligaments, tendons, muscles and nerves and how they all work together to allow you to move and perform normal functions. Y o u r  M u s c u l o s k e l e t a l  S y s t e m Bones are composed of calcium, phosphate, and other minerals forming the skeleton. Joints are the points at which the other parts that comprise your musculoskeletal system are joined. For example your knee, elbow or shoulder. Ligaments are fibrous bands of tissue that connect your bones. Tendons are cords of tough, inelastic, fibrous tissue which connect your muscles to your bones. Muscles are composed of fibrous tissue that contracts to produce a particular movement. Nerves are bundles of fibers which form the system that sends impulses of sensation, motion, etc between your brain, spinal cord, and other parts of your body. These components and the way they work together make up your musculoskeletal system.