According to the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, musculoskeletal conditions affect 52% of Americans and are responsible for the most lost workdays for employees, due to their effect on productivity. Orthopedic injuries can happen to anyone at any age and result in serious problems at work or school. Here are a few types of patients your local orthopedic clinic can help.

Children

Kids often get into impulsive decisions that can cause serious orthopedic injuries like a broken leg or arm. A local orthopedic clinic can analyze these injuries. They can diagnose problems both obvious and subtle, making sure that kids' broken bones and injured joints grow up safely and without pain.

Athletes

Athletes are one of the most obvious patients of orthopedists. With a constant supply of broken bones, sprained ligaments, and other ailments, an athlete is someone who constantly needs orthopedic help. Their bodies are high-performance machines and can also take some severe injuries in body-on-body contact, especially in full-contact sports.

Manual Laborers

Blue-collar workers are people who make their living with their hands and on their feet. Blue-collar jobs are often referred to as skilled trades. These are jobs that involve intense manual labor and can result in severe injury if something goes awry. A local orthopedic clinic will often see workers who have been injured on a job site as a result of bad timing and poor luck.

Vacationers

When on vacation, people often get into situations they never would in their normal lives. Exploring a new city involves a lot of walking. This can make it very easy for unprepared people who may not be particularly athletic to receive some particularly serious orthopedic injuries. By working with an orthopedic specialist, these patients can walk around on vacation without worry.

Older Patients

All the above problems can emerge with greater speed and danger in elderly patients. An older patient can be more physically fragile than a younger one, creating a special hazard for them. Older patients need to be monitored for the rapid worsening of their condition.

These are just a few types of patients that can benefit from going to a local orthopedic clinic. Do you have more questions about orthopedics? Call West Philadelphia Orthopedics & Therapy today for more information.