Fractures are not all the same, and neither are their treatments. A broken toe, for example, can be much simpler to treat than a compressed vertebrae or shattered rib. Sometimes, caring for a fracture requires more than a splint or cast. 

Quiz: If you’ve just hurt yourself — for example, sprained your ankle or tweaked your shoulder hitting a tennis serve  — do you ice the injury or apply heat to it?

Or how about chronic soreness or swelling from conditions like osteoarthritis or lower back pain? What’s more effective: heat or cold?

These are questions many people have, and a surprising number aren’t certain about the answer.

Bone growth stimulation, or BGS, is a form of therapy often used to promote healing after a spinal fusion surgery or fracture. BGS may promote faster natural healing in fractures that may be slow to heal on their own. Here is what you need to know If your orthopedic specialist recommends bone growth (osteogenesis) stimulation.

The spine is a complex series of 24 vertebrae along with the fused bones of the sacrum and coccyx that form the very center 

As women approach middle age, they may encounter unique musculoskeletal problems that affect them more frequently than men. Learn about 5 of the most common orthopedic surgeries sought out by women over 40.

Is your wrist sore, swollen, tender, or stiff? Wrist pain, especially after a fall or accident, can indicate an injury that may require treatment.

A meniscus tear is damage sustained to the rubbery, disc-shaped "shock absorber" cartilage inside the knee joint. Such injuries are extremely common in people over age 30, especially athletes who play contact sports.

The Achilles tendon is the thickest tendon in the body, running alongside the back of the lower leg and ankle. It connects the heel bone (calcaneus) to the muscles at the back of the calf and controls the raising and lowering of the heel. The Achilles tendon is one of the most frequently injured tendons, especially among athletes. A sore Achilles can affect your walking, running, and sports...

Knee cartilage tears are often caused by sports injuries, but they can result from any activity involving twisting or bending of the knee. As you age, the everyday forces you put on your knees can wear out the cartilage, leading to a gradual injury that feels sudden — you're fine until one day, you squat or twist and you feel something ripping.

Tennis elbow (medical term: lateral epicondylitis) is an overuse injury affecting the tendons in the outside of the elbow joint. It usually presents with weak grip strength and a painful soreness or burning sensation in the outside of the elbow. Tennis elbow can be a sports injury, but its causes vary — and some may surprise you.