An orthopedic traumatologist is a specialist who diagnoses, treats, and prevents diseases of the musculoskeletal system.

What symptoms indicate the need to visit an orthopedic traumatologist?

• Pain syndrome in the joint area
• Back pain
• Abnormal joint mobility
• Cracking in the joint area
• Limb injuries
• Spinal deformity
• Bruising of muscles and tendons
• Joint trauma
• Flat feet
• Arthritis and arthrosis
• Restricted joint movement

If you experience such complaints, it is advisable to consult a specialist for qualified assistance and to prevent the worsening of your condition.

Treatment of musculoskeletal diseases includes:

• Injection of medications into the joint cavity
• Joint punctures and drainage of fluid formations
• Production of custom orthopedic insoles
• Use of orthoses
• Surgical methods
• Hardware-based treatment methods:
  • Shockwave therapy
  • Magnetotherapy
  • Ultrasound therapy
  • Electrophoresis
  • Amplipulse therapy

Shockwave therapy is a physiotherapeutic treatment method characterized by the use of acoustic waves.

Acoustic waves are low-frequency sound waves that penetrate the soft tissues of the body, reducing pain syndrome and enhancing tissue regeneration.

Shockwave therapy is commonly used for the treatment of musculoskeletal disorders such as:

• Osteoarthritis of the joints
• Plantar fasciitis or heel spurs
• Joint bursitis
• Tendinitis
• Epicondylitis or "tennis elbow"
• Spinal diseases (osteochondrosis, protrusions, herniated spinal discs)
• Chronic muscle pain
• Flat feet
• Stimulating soft tissue regeneration

Contraindications for shockwave therapy:

• Patients with cancer in the affected area
• Pregnant women
• Children under 12 years old
• Patients with hemophilia or increased bleeding tendency
• Those on anticoagulants or hormone therapy
• Varicose veins in the affected area
• Presence of a pacemaker
• Thrombosis

How does shockwave therapy work?
Each session lasts 5–7 minutes. A full course for one segment includes 5–7 sessions with intervals of 5–7 days.

"My foot is killing me"
A common cause of heel pain is plantar fasciitis or heel spur.

This condition is characterized by inflammation in the fascia located along the bottom of the foot, connecting the metatarsal and heel bones. Pain occurs during physical activity, subsides at rest, and is sharp and burning in nature. It is most pronounced in the morning.

Who is at higher risk for this condition?
People:

• With excess body weight
• Wearing uncomfortable footwear
• With foot deformities
• Standing on their feet for long periods
• Engaging in certain sports (e.g., running, jumping)
• Of older age
• With joint or vascular diseases of the lower extremities

Diagnosis is straightforward and includes clinical symptoms and a foot X-ray.

Treatment for plantar fasciitis is comprehensive and includes:

• Prescription of NSAIDs
• Selection of orthopedic insoles
• Reducing foot load and ensuring rest
• Stretching foot muscles
• Foot massage
• Exercises to develop and maintain foot functionality
• Physiotherapy, primarily shockwave therapy

Each shockwave session lasts 10 minutes. A course consists of 5–7 sessions at intervals of one session every 5 days. Relief is often felt after the first session.

"Why is my foot different from others?"
This question often arises due to flat feet.

What is flat feet?
Flat feet is a common deformity in which the arches of one or both feet are lowered, reducing the ability to maintain balance.

Flat feet are often accompanied by:

• Foot pain
• Calluses, often near the big toe
• Fatigue while walking
• Pain in the lower limbs and lumbar spine during walking
• Tension in the calf muscles
• Flattening and frequent swelling of the feet

A simple home diagnosis involves using paper and paint. Coat the foot with paint and press it onto the paper while standing straight. Comparing the imprint to flat-footed patterns indicates whether you need to see an orthopedic traumatologist for treatment.

Treatment of flat feet includes:

• Performing specific exercises
• Shockwave therapy
• Custom-made orthopedic insoles

Why custom insoles?
Everyone's feet are unique, so ready-made insoles may not fit well. Custom-made insoles ensure proper correction.

Pain in the front of the foot

What could it be?
A common cause is Morton’s metatarsalgia (Morton’s neuroma).

Morton’s neuroma is a benign thickening of fibrous tissue on the plantar nerve of the foot.

Risk factors include:

• High heels or tight and uncomfortable shoes, which place additional pressure on the forefoot
• Sports involving tight footwear (e.g., skiing, climbing)
• Foot deformities such as high arches or flat feet

Symptoms include:

• Shooting, aching pain that becomes burning in the area of the third and fourth toes
• Pain initially occurs after physical activity but later persists throughout the day
• Feeling of a foreign object while wearing shoes

Diagnosis includes:

• Physical examination
• Instrumental diagnostics
  • Foot X-ray
  • Ultrasound
  • MRI

Treatment involves:

• Lifestyle modification: Avoid sports for several weeks and use pads or lifts to unload the foot.
• Shoe changes
• Conservative treatment: NSAIDs and corticosteroid injections into the affected area
• Surgery: Indicated when conservative treatment fails, including:
  • Excision of the neuroma
  • Cutting the transverse ligament compressing the nerve

Remember: "Self-treatment can harm your health."

Does your upper limb hurt?

What should you do?
Should you be concerned?

Common pain locations in the upper limb include:

• Shoulder joint area
• Elbow joint area
• Palmar surface of the hand

Shoulder joint pain:
Pain in the anterior shoulder is often caused by tendinitis of the long head of the biceps tendon.

Causes include:

• Excessive overhead arm movements (e.g., swimming, tennis, gymnastics, rowing)
• Falling on the shoulder joint

Treatment is usually conservative, involving corticosteroid injections and physiotherapy.

Elbow joint pain:
Pain on the outer elbow may indicate epicondylitis (tennis elbow).

Risk factors include:

• Repeated bending and straightening of the elbow under load (e.g., masseurs, painters, carpenters, tennis players)
• Direct trauma to the elbow
• Sudden intense muscle strain

Treatment is comprehensive:

• Physical therapy
• Massage
• Physiotherapy (shockwave therapy, ultrasound, magnetotherapy)
• Local corticosteroid injections

Hand pain:
A common condition is stenosing ligamentitis (trigger finger or Nott’s disease).

Symptoms include:

• Clicking sounds during finger movements
• Stiffness or numbness in the affected area
• Pain that worsens with pressure or movement

Treatment involves:

• Physiotherapy
• Massage
• Physical therapy exercises
• NSAIDs
• Local corticosteroid injections

When conservative methods fail, a minimally invasive ligamentotomy (Needling) is performed. This procedure uses a needle under local anesthesia to cut the annular ligament, with minimal recovery time.