During your lifetime, there is a good chance you'll experience problems with your bones or muscles. You could stumble and twist your ankle carrying groceries from the car. Arthritis may set in as you age, causing joint pain and stiffness. Or occasional back pain may worsen, making it hard for you to work.

Whether you’ve had trouble bouncing back from a sports-related injury, or your age-related aches and pains have become intolerable, it may be time to talk to a Mercy orthopedic specialist. An orthopedic physician specializes in conditions affecting bones and muscles, also called the musculoskeletal system.

Understanding the Musculoskeletal System

Your musculoskeletal system is the network of bones, muscles and tissues that frame your body and allow it to move. It includes:

• Your skeleton, which supports your body weight and protects your organs
• Muscles that let you move almost every part of your body, from standing and walking to typing or throwing
• Joints, where two bones connect and allow specialized movement such as bending or turning. Major joints include your shoulders, hips and knees
• Tendons, tissue that attaches your muscles to your bones
• Ligaments, tissue that attaches bones to other bones
• Cartilage, a rubbery tissue that covers the ends of many bones, allowing them to glide against each other

Orthopedic Care at Mercy

Mercy’s orthopedic physicians share a passion for protecting and preserving your mobility and strength. With more than 150 orthopedic physicians, Mercy can care for nearly any medical condition or injury that affects the musculoskeletal system. 

Don’t let a bone and muscle problem interfere with your ability to work, play or take care of yourself. Turn to the orthopedic team who cares about your mobility and independence as much as you do. Together we’ll create a treatment plan that gets you back to doing all the things you love.