Knee and shoulder related injuries can commonly occur during sports or other physical activities. Knee & Shoulder Institute is a state of the art practice providing advanced orthopedic care and physical therapy to treat various injuries and diseases related to these areas.
The practice integrates physical therapy, clinical orthopedics, outpatient arthroscopy, surgery center, and radiology and lab services to provide comprehensive solutions to patients. Board certified orthopedic surgeons Dr. Steven Thomas and Dr. Gregory Bigler provide advanced knee and shoulder treatments to patients in Las Vegas, Nevada and surrounding locations.
Shoulder
If the shoulder joint develops abnormal motion, it indicates instability of the shoulder. This can cause problems such as impingement of the shoulder or bursitis. Impingement syndrome can range from simple bursitis to tearing of the rotator cuff. This tear is a separation of the tendons that form the cuff of the tissue surrounding the shoulder bone. Primary movements of the shoulder will be happened if a tear occurs in the rotator cuff.
The shoulder joint bones are covered by hyaline cartilage, which ensures almost frictionless surface. If this cartilage gets damaged due to trauma, infection or simply wear and tear, it will cause osteoarthritis of the shoulder. These conditions of the shoulder can be addressed with specific physical therapy approaches, and sometimes involve surgery.
Knee
The knee, which bears the body weight, has a very important “shock absorber” called the meniscus. Meniscus is a semi-lunar shaped wedge made of fibro-cartilage, which is a very strong substance. It has minimal blood supply except for the most peripheral aspects. The meniscus performs various vital functions.
It protects the joint cartilage from wearing out and causing early arthritis. It distributes a large part of the body weight as a person walks, runs or jumps. The meniscus also adds to the knee joint stability by helping the shape of the femur conform to the tibia. Finally, the meniscus plays a key role in nourishing the joint cartilage that covers the joint bones.
Any injury to the meniscus, long-term wear and tear, or infection can cause osteoarthritis of the knee. Dr. Thomas and Dr. Bigler are board certified orthopedic surgeons receiving patients from Las Vegas, Nevada, and nearby areas for physical therapy and surgery of the knee.
Physical Therapy
Mild to moderate problems related to the knee and shoulder can usually be corrected with physical therapy exercises for motion and strength improvement. It may also involve training to balance the muscle forces around the joint. Pain and inflammation can be reduced with medication, but it is not a long-term solution to the underlying problem.
In more severe cases, Dr. Thomas and Dr. Biger may decide to treat the damaged joint surfaces with arthroscopic surgery. Ligament laxity or insufficiency can also be treated with physical therapy or surgery. Post traumatic arthritis may occur from previous injuries, which can be treated with arthroscopic surgical techniques. If the damage is severe, the surgeon may recommend joint altering surgery such as fusion or knee or shoulder joint replacement.
If you would like to schedule an appointment or learn more about the Knee and Shoulder Institute procedures & treatments performed by Las Vegas, Nevada board certified surgeons Steven C. Thomas, MD and Gregory T. Bigler, MD. call (702) 933-9393; Physical Therapy (702) 933-9394