By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
  • Health
    • Mental Health
    Health
    Healthcare organizations are operating on slimmer profit margins than ever. One report in August showed that they are even lower than the beginning of the…
    Show More
    Top News
    improving patient experience
    6 Ways to Improve Patient Satisfaction Within Hospitals
    December 1, 2021
    degree for healthcare job
    What Are The Health Benefits Of Having A Degree?
    March 9, 2022
    custom software development is changing healthcare
    Digital Customer Journey Mapping and its Importance for Healthcare
    July 21, 2022
    Latest News
    Grounded Healing: A Natural Ally for Sustainable Healthcare Systems
    May 16, 2025
    Learn how to Renew your Medical Card in West Virginia
    May 16, 2025
    Choosing the Right Supplement Manufacturer for Your Brand
    May 1, 2025
    Engineering Temporary Hospitals for Extreme Weather
    April 24, 2025
  • Policy and Law
    • Global Healthcare
    • Medical Ethics
    Policy and Law
    Get the latest updates about Insurance policies and Laws in the Healthcare industry for different geographical locations.
    Show More
    Top News
    Can Thinking Younger Make You Live Longer?
    April 20, 2011
    Image
    Obesity’s Outlook Unchanged
    June 13, 2011
    When It’s An Emergency Elderly Not Treated As Well in Hospitals
    July 16, 2011
    Latest News
    Building Smarter Care Teams: Aligning Roles, Structure, and Clinical Expertise
    May 18, 2025
    The Critical Role of Healthcare in Personal Injury Recovery: A Comprehensive Guide for Victims
    May 14, 2025
    The Backbone of Successful Trials: Clinical Data Management
    April 28, 2025
    Advancing Your Healthcare Career through Education and Specialization
    April 16, 2025
  • Medical Innovations
  • News
  • Wellness
  • Tech
Search
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: The Importance of Being on the Same Page
Share
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
Font ResizerAa
Search
Follow US
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Health Works Collective > Policy & Law > Medical Education > The Importance of Being on the Same Page
Medical EducationOrthopaedics

The Importance of Being on the Same Page

docnieder
Last updated: July 18, 2013 8:00 am
docnieder
Share
3 Min Read
orthopedics and obesity
SHARE

No doctor is perfect. My guess is that orthopedic surgeons are as tired of talking about the importance of weight loss and exercise as I am to what seems to be deaf ears. Worse, it’s unprofessional to complain about other specialists[1], but my last two weeks have been a bit frustrating. 

No doctor is perfect. My guess is that orthopedic surgeons are as tired of talking about the importance of weight loss and exercise as I am to what seems to be deaf ears. Worse, it’s unprofessional to complain about other specialists[1], but my last two weeks have been a bit frustrating. 

  • Patient was seen two years ago with “mild arthritis” in a joint. She was told by two orthopedic specialists that she didn’t need surgery. Neither of them recommended physical therapy or for that matter, any movement whatsoever. Apparently that’s what she didn’t do–move (or so I’ve been told by a friend). Now she’s scheduled for a joint replacement having never been offered the option of physical therapy. I cannot help but think her inactivity orthopedics and obesityaccelerated her joint problem.[2]
  • I encourage my patients with knee and hip pain to exercise and especially to lose weight. If I send them to an orthopedist they come back to me and deny that the orthopedist recommended weight loss. I think they just didn’t hear what they don’t want to hear but many times, there is nothing in the referral note indicating that they were told to lose weight. 
  • Last week two patients came to me after they saw their orthopedic surgeons asking ME to send them to physical therapy. Why? Because the surgeon didn’t recommend it. 
Several years ago a friend of mine was sitting in an orthopedist office. After looking around the orthopedic’s waiting room, she began a diet and exercise program the next morning. She told me “Except for the athletes, every person over 50 in that office was at least 30 pounds overweight. How can you miss the message there?” At that time she was in her early forties. Now ten years later she has kept the 10 pounds she shed off and exercises at least four times weekly.

Day in and day out I understand how frustrating it is to try to motivate patients to exercise and lose weight. Many of my orthopedic colleagues DO emphasize these things and my sense is that they are improving in that regard. In a society where obesity is ever more the norm, we’ve all got to be on the same page to help patients make changes, especially if you are the expert in the patient’s eyes.[3] 
 
 
1. http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/07/11/doctors-badmouthing-other-doctors/
2. http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/arthritis/AR00009
3. http://www.news-medical.net/news/20130411/Orthopaedic-surgeons-should-recommend-weight-loss-to-patients-prior-to-joint-replacement.aspx
TAGGED:obesity
Share This Article
Facebook Copy Link Print
Share

Stay Connected

1.5kFollowersLike
4.5kFollowersFollow
2.8kFollowersPin
136kSubscribersSubscribe

Latest News

Clinical Expertise
Building Smarter Care Teams: Aligning Roles, Structure, and Clinical Expertise
Health care
May 18, 2025
Grounded Healing: A Natural Ally for Sustainable Healthcare Systems
Grounded Healing: A Natural Ally for Sustainable Healthcare Systems
Health
May 15, 2025
Learn how to Renew your Medical Card in West Virginia
Learn how to Renew your Medical Card in West Virginia
Health
May 15, 2025
Dr. Klaus Rentrop Shares Acute Myocardial Infarction heart treatment
Dr. Klaus Rentrop Shares Acute Myocardial Infarction
Cardiology
May 13, 2025

You Might also Like

Medical Educators Need to Take Charge and Help Deflate Medical Bills

April 8, 2013

Implants From OrthoSensor to Monitor Knees for Load, Stability and Functionality

May 20, 2011
Medical Education

How To Prepare For Personal Trainer Certification Testing Like A Pro

January 8, 2019
medical education debt
Medical Education

Medical Student Debt: Could Private Investment Be a Game Changer?

April 5, 2013
Subscribe
Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!
Follow US
© 2008-2025 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?