Traditional 'open' surgery normally requires a large incision, followed by a long period of time for recovery, but with advanced techniques such as arthroscopy (are-throw-SKAW-pee)) that's no longer necessary.

Have you ever suffered from miner's elbow, weaver's bottom, or housemaid's knee? Although these problems sound odd, they're forms of a common ailment called bursitis (bur-SIGH-tis).

Cartilage tears (tehrz) are the most common cause of leg pain in active people, both young and old. There are many causes of cartilage tears, many of which are related to the age of the person and their activity level.

Foot deformities, such as hammertoes, bunions, corns and calluses, and plantar warts can affect anyone at any age. Hammertoes have a permanent sideways bend in your middle toe joint and can be aggravated by tight shoes.

Patients who undergo surgery or sustain an injury to their cervical vertebrae, must often wear a halo vest to immobilize their head and neck. The halo vest has three main parts: the metal halo ring that fits around your head and is secured to the skull by four metal pins, the lined vest that suspends the weight of the apparatus around the trunk of your body, and the metal bars that connect the halo ring to the body vest.

Hip replacement is a surgical procedure in which the diseased parts of your hip are removed and replaced with new, artificial parts to relieve pain and improve function of the hip joint.

A hip spica (SPY-kuh) cast is needed after a fracture for a congenitally (kuhn-JEHN-ih-tuhl-ly) dislocated hip, tendon releases, or after surgery around the hip or upper leg.

Your joints are located anywhere in your body where bones connect, and are protected by cartilage and a lubricating fluid that allow the bones to slide against each other painlessly.

When you have an arthritic (are-THRIH-tik) or damaged joint removed and replaced with an artificial joint made of plastic or metal, it's called total joint replacement.

One of the most common knee injuries is a ligament tear (tehr), primarily, the anterior cruciate (KRUE-shee-ate) ligament, or ACL (A-C-L), which may require reconstructive surgery.

Rehabilitation, or physical therapy, involves the use of hands-on therapy, exercise, and the use of physical agents such as heat, cold, electrical stimulation, and hydrotherapy.

Spinal disorders can cover a wide range of problems, but the most common areas of the spine that cause discomfort are the neck and lower back. Your neck, or cervical spine, can be injured from trauma, such as car accidents, or become stiff or sore from muscular pain, arthritis, or disc disease.

Tendons are the thick, fibrous cords that attach your muscles to bone, and when they become inflamed or irritated it's called tendonitis (tehn-dih-NYE-this).

The Achilles (uh-KILL-eez) is the large tendon connecting the two major calf muscles to the back of your heel bone. If there's too much stress on the Achilles, the tendon can tighten and is forced to work too hard.