We're excited to announce some changes to our Plainsboro Office which is located in the Medical Arts Pavilion at The Princeton Hospital! We are migrating our Plainsboro Orthopedic Office from the 4th floor to the 1st floor of The Medical Arts Pavillion in Suite 100!
So if you're heading to the Princeton Orthopaedics location in Plainsboro, please go to the 1st Floor, Suite 100 in the Medical Arts Pavilion.
The address stays the same, but the suite number, and the floor have changed! Just remember that we are on the 1st Floor, Suite 100. That address is listed below:
Princeton Orthopaedic Associates 5 Plainsboro Road, First Floor; Suite #100 Plainsboro, NJ 08536
Additionally, with this office migration, the Princeton Orthopaedic Associates team in Plainsboro will be able start offering both Urgent Care and Physical Therapy!
Muscle strains are a pretty common orthopaedic condition. You’re likely going to experience muscle strain during your lifetime.
Muscle strains can result from overexertion or sudden movements, often when the muscle is either stretched too far or injured by a direct blow. Or, as you get older, they can be caused by simply getting out of bed (haha!)
Muscle strains are also more likely to occur in individuals who lack flexibility or strength due to advancing age, inactivity, injury, or other health-related issues. Here are some tips for treating muscle strain and getting back into shape!
Symptoms of Muscle Strain
When you have a muscle strain, you’ll know it. It hurts. You may experience pain, tenderness, spasms, and limited movement. Other common signs include bruising, swelling, warmth over the site of injury, or abnormal skin coloration.
What Causes Muscle Strains?
Muscle strains are typically caused by sudden, unanticipated movements or overexertion of the muscle. How muscle strains occur are usually associated with an active lifestyle–which is great!–but they can dampen your enthusiasm for what you’re doing to stay in shape. Muscle strains can result from overuse, stretching a muscle too far, or being hit with an unexpected blow. Muscle strains are more likely to occur in individuals who lack flexibility or strength due to advancing age, inactivity, injury, or other health-related issues. That’s why practices like active stretching or pilates are essential for prevention.
Treatment Options for Strained Muscles
Thankfully, not all strains require a trip to the doctor, but you should take them seriously and let us help you. If the pain or discomfort lasts longer than a couple of days or you notice severe bruising or discoloration, we recommend you come in. We’ll be able to pinpoint the problems and even figure out whether the problem is something severe, such as a ruptured or torn ligament.
The best way to treat muscle strain is to apply a brace to the injured area and take anti-inflammatory medication like ibuprofen or naproxen. Applying an ice pack to the injury for 15 minutes can also help reduce inflammation, relieve pain, and speed up recovery.
Unless otherwise indicated by a physician, you should avoid using heat on the injured area to prevent tissue damage and promote healing. You should also avoid stretching or massaging the injured area, which could worsen the tear. Keeping your leg elevated for as long as possible after you have sustained a muscle strain will also help reduce swelling and decrease pain. (Side note: You mustn't put weight on an injured leg until it has completely healed).
Here are some things you should do at home if you have a muscle strain:
RICE Method
One way you can treat a muscle strain is to use the RICE method. The acronym stands for Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation.
To follow the RICE method, you will need to rest your muscle strain. This means taking some time off from activities that put pressure on your injured area and resting it in a comfortable position. You should also apply an ice pack to the injury for 20 minutes at a time, every hour or so. Make sure not to apply pressure directly onto the injured area with the ice pack. Use a towel or cloth between your skin and the ice pack. Finally, use an elastic bandage or ace wrap to keep your injured area compressed.
At-Home Treatments
If you experience a muscle strain, it is important to take care of the injury right away. Try some of these home remedies for muscle strain to help speed up the healing process:
Apply heat packs for 10-15 minutes for two days following an injury, then apply it less often.
Avoid using any weight on the affected limb and avoid walking more than necessary until healed.
Take Ibuprofen or acetaminophen according to your need and the bottle's directions.
Get plenty of rest and drink lots of fluids to fight any potential infection and promote healing.
Muscle Strain Prevention and Rehab
The best way to rehabilitate muscle strains is to try out some rehabilitation exercises. Rehabilitation exercises are used to strengthen the muscles around the injured site and promote healing and prevent future injury. Some of the most common rehabilitation exercises include:
Strengthening exercises
Stretching exercises
Range of motion exercises
Massage therapy
Ultrasound therapy
These rehab exercises are designed to help your body heal itself and get back into shape after an injury. Rehabilitative exercises also serve as a preventative measure, which means they can be beneficial in cases where a person has experienced previous injuries or has certain health conditions that make them prone to injuries.
How Can You Prevent Muscle Strains?
Muscle strains are preventable with the proper methods. To prevent muscle strains, you should focus on increasing your flexibility and strength. You can do this by exercising regularly and stretching before you exercise. You should also avoid overexerting yourself, meaning that if you're getting a little tired or sore during a workout, it's time to stop and take a break.
Muscle injuries are one of the most common injuries in any athletic or physical activity. They are especially common in sports like soccer, rugby, and football. In this blog post, we’ve outlined the most effective ways to treat muscle strain. Depending on the severity of the injury, you should seek medical attention. In the meantime, you can use the RICE method to relieve any pain and swelling. Home remedies like ice baths and cold packs can also be helpful in your recovery process.
The best thing you can do is take preventative measures to avoid getting muscle strain in the first place. Avoiding heavy lifting and stretching before and after workouts is a great way to start.
Tendonitis is not as scary as it sounds. It’s a type of inflammation that affects tendons, the tissues that connect muscles to bones. If you have elbow tendonitis, it means that you are overworking your muscles and stressing the tendons in your elbow. Athletes are more prone to developing tendonitis because their activities stress their joints and tendons in a way that can cause friction and irritation. However, anyone who engages in repetitive motions can contract tendonitis. Tendons can become inflamed for many reasons, including overuse of that joint or activity; improper technique while exercising; stressors such as dehydration; strain from awkward positions; excess body weight; and even genetics may play a role.
Best Treatment Options For Tendonitis In Your Elbow
If you have tendonitis in your elbow, there are a few treatment options available to you. One, ice the inflamed area to reduce swelling and pain. The idea behind icing is that cold temperatures can help reduce inflammation and pain, allowing for a more comfortable healing process. If you want, you can wrap the ice in a towel before applying it to your elbow, but it’s not necessary. You should keep icing your elbow for 10-15 minutes at a time every few hours or as needed. You can also use an ice pack or gel pack, which provides more relief than ice cubes because it delivers more consistent pressure on the inflamed tissue. If it persists, try applying heat instead to increase blood flow and circulation along with decreased inflammation.
Other options include taking over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medications for temporary relief of pain and stiffness. You could also wear a splint if your symptoms are severe or don't respond to other treatments. If that doesn’t work, you could try professional massage therapy treatments at least once a week for three weeks. Another option is to stretch your muscles as often as possible by gently reaching out on your fingertips against resistance from one hand with the other hand. Lastly, do gentle exercises that don't aggravate the tendonitis such as using light weights with small repetitions or using a stationary bike.
Other Options
Change Your Environment To Help Train Your Body
One of the best ways to treat tendonitis is to change your environment. This includes taking a break from your activity and finding ways to exercise that don’t cause pain in the affected area. You may need to modify or switch up your exercise routine, such as doing exercises with a ball instead of weightlifting. Additionally, you should take care of your body by drinking more water and eating more protein-rich foods. If you still have pain despite changing your environment, there are other treatment options available as well. You can use ice packs and massage therapy to help relieve the pain and inflammation. If this doesn’t work, ask for a cortisone injection in the elbow area, which will decrease the inflammation over time. Other treatments include acupuncture or one of many different medications prescribed by a doctor.
Try Physical Therapy
If you develop tendonitis in your elbow and don’t want to take medications or stop activity all together, physical therapy may be the best option for you. When it comes to healing tendonitis in your elbow, there are two different ways that physical therapy can help. The first type is manual therapy. Manual therapists, also known as physical therapists, work with your muscles and joints through a variety of techniques including massage, stretching, resistance training, and joint manipulation. This type of therapy is often used to treat tendonitis in the elbows because it focuses on strengthening the joint while decreasing stiffness and pain. The second type of physical therapy that may help heal tendonitis in your elbow is a form of exercise called "dry needling." A therapist inserts a small needle into the patient’s muscle beneath the skin to release tightness or trigger points caused by repetitive motions or stressors like dehydration. Dry needling is effective at treating chronic pain associated with tendinitis because it targets the root of the problem rather than just relieving symptoms.
Try Ultrasound Therapy
The best treatment for tendonitis is to address the underlying cause. For instance, if you are an athlete and regularly engage in repetitive motions that cause your elbow to become inflamed, you need to stop doing that activity. If you are suffering from elbow pain due to overuse, you can try using ultrasound therapy. Ultrasound therapy helps by reducing inflammation and stimulating blood flow to the tissue. It also increases the production of collagen and nitric oxide, two substances that promote healing in an inflamed area. Ultrasound therapy is a non-invasive way to treat tendonitis without having to take any medication or undergo surgery. All you have to do is get an ultrasound treatment which takes about 15 minutes and can be done at home or at a clinic. The only risk associated with ultrasound therapy is if you have a pacemaker or other electronic device implanted in your chest area because it can interfere with the electromagnetic waves emitted by the device.
Try Rehabilitation Exercises
If you suspect that tendonitis is the issue, the first step is to rest the arm and discontinue any activities that could be causing an overload on your elbow. Next, try some rehabilitation exercises. These are designed to stretch tense muscles and strengthen ones that have atrophied due to not being used as often. Consider using a wrist splint or brace if you're experiencing pain in your hand while doing these exercises, or if you're experiencing carpal tunnel syndrome.
Final Thoughts
Tendonitis is not as scary as it sounds. It’s a type of inflammation that affects tendons, the tissues that connect muscles to bones. If you have elbow tendonitis, it means that you are overworking your muscles and stressing the tendons in your elbow. Athletes are more prone to developing tendonitis because their activities stress their joints and tendons in a way that can cause friction and irritation. However, anyone who engages in repetitive motions can contract tendonitis. Tendons can become inflamed for many reasons, including overuse of that joint or activity; improper technique while exercising; stressors such as dehydration; strain from awkward positions; excess body weight; and even genetics may play a role.
When it comes to the health of your hips, bursitis is not something you want to hear. But if you have ever experienced it, you know how much of a nuisance it can be. Bursitis is inflammation of one or more bursa—fluid-filled sacs located beneath your skin in certain spots, most notably around your hips. This condition can make even the simplest tasks extremely painful. Prolonged bursitis can even result in permanent damage. Fortunately, there are several things you can do to help prevent bursitis from developing or coming back. But if you suspect that you have developed bursitis and are ready to take action to get rid of it for good, this article will help get you started on the right track. Here, you’ll learn about the common causes and symptoms of hip bursitis as well as various treatment options that might be right for you.
What Is Bursitis?
Bursitis is a form of arthritis that causes inflammation of the bursa. Bursa are small sacs of fluid — like miniature joints — that help cushion the joints and reduce friction and pain. Bursitis can occur in the shoulder, knee, hip and even the elbow. If the bursa becomes irritated and swollen, it can become a bursitis. People who do repetitive motions such as people who lift weights or who sit at a computer all day are at risk for bursitis. If you have an inflamed bursa, you may experience pain and swelling around the area where the bursa is located. The most common areas in which bursitis develops are the shoulder, elbow, knee and hips. Bursitis can also develop in your feet, which is referred to as plantar bursitis.
How Does Bursitis Happen?
Bursa are small pouches filled with fluid that sit between your muscles, tendons and bones. Some bursa help reduce friction between the bones and may be referred to as “dynamic” bursa, such as the ones found around the hips. While others are known as “static” bursa and are located near joints, helping to keep the bones from rubbing against each other. The buildup of pressure in this fluid-filled sac can cause inflammation, which is known as bursitis. Bursitis can be caused by a number of factors, including injury, overuse, infection or poor posture. You are most at risk for bursitis if you have a job that requires repetitive motions, such as manual labor or work on a computer, as well as those who participate in activities that require a lot of jumping or quick movements, such as sports or dancing.
The Symptoms of Hip Bursitis
Pain or tenderness on or around the hip - Usually the outside portion of the hip or the upper portion of the buttocks is affected
Swelling of the hip - Swelling may be present on the outside of the hip or may be visible inside the joint if a large amount of fluid has accumulated.
Swelling of the surrounding muscles
Limping or a change in walking pattern
Decreased ability to raise the knee towards the chest
Pain when lying down or rolling over in bed
Pain when rising from a seated position
Pain when walking up stairs or hills
Pain when twisting or turning the hip
Weakness or decreased strength of the muscles in the leg
Decreased ability to lift objects
Possible Causes of Bursitis
The exact cause of bursitis is unknown, but it can develop when a sudden increase in pressure occurs within a bursa sac. This often happens when the bursa are overused or irritated.
Common causes of bursitis include:
Repetitive motions - Whether it’s from sports, manual labor or a repetitive action from your daily life, repetitive motions that irritate the bursa can cause them to become inflamed.
Injuries - Bursitis can develop following an injury, such as a fall or sprain, that causes an increase in pressure within the bursa.
Infection - Infection can cause an increase in the pressure within a bursa, which can lead to inflammation.
Poor posture - Bursitis can develop if you have poor posture and put added pressure on the bursa.
Age - As you age, the bursa become less effective, which can lead to bursitis.
Treatments for Hip Bursitis
Since bursitis is an inflammatory-based condition, treatment includes reducing inflammation by following a warm compress or ice pack routine while resting as much as possible. In addition, you may want to consider following a healthy diet and lifestyle to further help prevent the condition from recurring.
Heat - Applying a warm compress to the affected area may help reduce inflammation and relieve pain by improving blood flow. This is best done for 15-20 minutes, two times per day, at a moderate heat level.
Rest - While this may be difficult for those who are unable to work, resting is one of the most effective ways to decrease inflammation and speed up the healing process.
Healthy Diet - While there are no specific foods that are proven to help with bursitis, following a healthy diet will help prevent many health conditions and promote general wellness.
Exercises - Exercises that don’t irritate the bursa can be performed as part of the treatment plan.
Medication - While bursitis is not an immediate emergency, you should see your doctor if you suspect you have this condition. If a doctor determines that you have bursitis, they will likely prescribe medication to help reduce inflammation, such as NSAIDs or corticosteroids.
Conclusion
Hip bursitis can be a painful condition that can make even the simplest activities difficult. Luckily, there are several things you can do to help prevent it or reduce its severity, such as following a healthy diet, exercising regularly and changing your posture. If you think you may have developed bursitis, you should see your doctor for treatment.
Everyone’s feet are not the same. Some people are born with a higher risk of developing flat feet or some other foot abnormalities. However, it’s not something to be scared of. Having flat feet does not necessarily mean you will end up with painful arthritis in your knees or hips. In fact, if you have flat feet, you can even view it as an advantage because it might help you become a better runner or even an athlete! A person with flat feet has an arch that is less noticeable than usual when viewed from above. When standing and walking, this may lead to greater stress on the knee joint than someone who has arches that are more pronounced. If your child has flat feet, consult your doctor for advice on the best activities for them and their specific condition so they can remain healthy and active.
Causes of Flat Feet
There are many ways people end up with flat feet. There are various traumas that can occur which affect the foot and ankle leading to a flattening of the arch. Mostly, though, people who have flat feet are born with that condition. It’s genetic. One of the most common reasons is a lack of arch support when the foot is growing inside the womb. Due to this, the bones of the foot are not aligned correctly, and the arch is not developed or not properly developed. Another common reason for flat feet is an abnormal leg length. This can happen as a result of muscle imbalances that occur during one’s lifetime. Due to certain muscles being weaker than others, the legs can be out of alignment, which affects the way the foot strikes the ground. Finally, having flat feet can be due to a foot deformity that happened during childhood. If a child is putting a lot of pressure on their feet and toes, they can cause soft tissue misalignment. Over time, that misalignment can become permanent.
What Are the Symptoms of Flat Feet?
Generally, people with flat feet don’t notice pain in their feet, and they lead a normal, active lifestyle. But when they start experiencing pain in their knees or hips, the problem is obviously there. If the affected person is a child or a teenager, the doctor would monitor the situation very closely.
The most common symptoms of having flat feet are:
Pain in the shins or the calves - This is one of the most common symptoms of flat feet;
Foot pain or pain in the toes - This can happen when a person walks a lot or when they have a long day at work. It can also indicate a more serious problem such as nerve damage;
Plantar Fasciitis - This is a condition that affects the soles of the feet. It is caused by the rupture of the plantar fascia, the ligament that supports the arch of the foot.
How Is a Diagnosis Made?
Your doctor will take a look at your foot structure and decide whether you have flat feet or not. If you are suffering from foot pain, he or she might order X-rays. However, the diagnosis can be tricky if you only have one or two symptoms from the above list and your feet have a normal appearance. In such a case, your doctor might refer you to a podiatrist for a thorough examination. The podiatrist will measure your foot structure, take into account your other symptoms, and examine the pressure distribution between your foot and the floor when you walk.
Treatment Options for Flat Feet
If you have flat feet and they don’t cause you any discomfort or pain, there’s no reason to treat them. But if they do, there are a few options you can turn to.
Orthotics - These are devices that are inserted in the shoe to provide more support to the foot. A podiatrist can prescribe one that is specially designed for your foot type to improve your posture and help your arches to pronate better.
Physiotherapy - Depending on the level of discomfort you are experiencing, your doctor might refer you to a physiotherapist for treatment. They can help you with stretching or strengthening exercises, or they can even recommend a suitable orthotic if your feet are particularly sensitive.
Surgery - It is rare for a doctor to suggest surgery for flat feet since the condition does not cause any serious health complications. However, if the pain is too great, surgery might be the only solution.
Final Words
Having flat feet doesn’t mean you can’t lead a healthy and active lifestyle. But you should keep in mind that, unlike people with high arches, you are more prone to various foot and ankle injuries, such as plantar fasciitis. Your doctor will recommend which exercises are best for you so you can strengthen your muscles and improve your posture. If you follow their advice, you will soon be enjoying the benefits of an active lifestyle without pain!
Behind your knee cap are two really important ligaments that form an X, and they hold your femur together with the tibia. They’re two of the most important ligaments which help your leg bend at the knee. The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and the posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) are called. They are your knee’s interior dynamic duo. On the outside, you’ve got two medial (inside) and lateral (outside) collateral ligaments that are both critical to knee stability. They help keep the knee from hyper-extending or bending sideways. That’s basic knee anatomy. The ACL keeps the bottom part of your leg from moving too far forward and the PCL keeps it from moving too far backward. Sometimes, though, these ligaments can tear. You’ve probably heard about a college or professional athlete who has torn their ACL. But what about the PCL?
What is a PCL Injury?
A PCL injury is a rare sports injury that occurs in any athlete who has explosive acceleration, agility, and cutting movements as part of their regular activity. Of course, it doesn’t always happen to athletes. There are traumas, such as a car wreck, which can cause damage to the PCL. These injuries are classified by severity as Grade 1, Grade 2, or Grade 3. Grade 1 is a hyperextension where the ligament is stretched beyond what it was meant to. Grade 2 is when that stretching turns into a slight tear. Grade 3 is when the ligament is torn all the way through. With a PCL injury, your knee will feel unstable and you will have pain on the inside of your knee. The pain can also extend up to your hip and down the inside of your thigh.
How Do You Know If You’ve Hurt Your PCL?
If you’ve recently injured your knee and are wondering if it was a PCL injury, there are a few telltale signs to look out for. You should also watch out for two specific symptoms: Pain in the back of your knee and swelling in the knee. If you’re experiencing those symptoms, it’s important to see a doctor immediately to diagnose the issue and rule out any other potential injuries. The sooner you address the injury, the better off your recovery process will be.
Treatment Options for PCL Injuries
For Grade 1 and 2 injuries, there are non-surgical options for treatment. To start with, your normal RICE protocol is important: Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation. Stay off of it as much as you can for a few days. Use a compression knee brace and ice the back of your knee regularly. You can also take anti-inflammatory over-the-counter medications. Depending on how severe a Grade 2 injury is, you might even do physical therapy. All of this should be in consult with your doctor.
For a Grade 3 injury, your only option is surgery. The good news is that since the cruciate ligaments have gotten so much attention due to their injuries being associated with professional athletes, we’ve gotten really good at them. We’re able to repair the injury and have you back on your feet in no time. Well, after recovery and rehab, that is.
Conclusion
PCL injuries are on the rise, and it’s important for athletes, weekend warriors, and anyone else who participates in sports to take the necessary precautions to avoid any sort of injury. One of the most important things you can do is to always keep your knee properly braced and supported. If you hurt your PCL, it is absolutely essential that you treat it as soon as possible. The sooner you go to a doctor, the sooner you will be able to get back on track.
Princeton Orthopaedic Associates isn’t one of those quick pop-up clinics. We’ve been around for more than 35 years, and we’ve proudly built a reputation as a community of extraordinary care. We’ve expanded that community of care over the years from one office to six amazing locations throughout Central New Jersey.
“I think all the way back to when I came to Princeton Orthopaedic Associates,” said Dr. W. Thomas Gutowski, a hip and knee specialist with POA and one of our earliest members. “I remember going to dinner with the two guys that I joined in 1985, and saying to one of those guys, ‘Do you think someday we might have two offices?’”
“So, you can imagine when I think of POA today, the tremendous feeling of success,” he said.
That success has been cultivated over the last three decades by providing personalized, exceptional care to every patient who walks through our doors, whether that’s our main office or second office in Princeton, or our offices in Plainsboro, Monroe, Ewing, or Robbinsville.
More Than Just a Partnership
At Princeton Orthopaedic Associates, we have spent years going beyond a collection of doctors in one building. We have created a community of extraordinary care, with doctors who have become true world-class specialists in their respective fields.
“We’ve really taken it to another level, and that level is a good thing,” said Dr. Gutowski. “I look at all these junior partners of mine, and they’re not junior partners, they are now my partners, and I think one of the key things that all of my partners believe in is that the people we bring in want to be good people, caring physicians, as opposed to just technicians.
“Good, solid, honest, hard-working people — that’s been the recipe to get good doctors.”
Bringing the Personal Touch to Our Community
POA takes pride in providing personalized care for our patients. We don’t just treat an x-ray or a diagnosis — we treat people. That philosophy has made us more than a medical clinic. We are a true resource for our communities.
“People know us, they value us, and they respect us,” said Dr. Gutowski. “We believe in the community, and so we need to be solid across that. We can’t be isolated off in a corner somewhere, and I think we’re trying to change and evolve with our community, without ever losing the personal touch.”
POA does this by focusing on patients over profits. Often, modern medical communities lose sight of the patient, opting instead to maximize profits. We don’t do that here. Instead, we understand that patient-first care creates better outcomes.
“We very much want to be doctors who deliver extraordinary care,” Dr. Gutowski said, “because I think we are dealing with extraordinary people, too, who value that, who recognize that, and demand that, and so it’s up to us to deliver on that part.”
Contact us today to see how you can become a part of our community of extraordinary care!
We pride ourselves on being a community of extraordinary care. As community-based caregivers, our doctors, teams, and physical therapists exist to provide world-class care for our local community first. Our love for our community is why we are driven to provide the extraordinary care we’re known for delivering.
Pioneers of Extraordinary Care
We strive to be true pioneers in how doctors collaborate. We don’t let egos get in the way of providing exceptional care to our patients. We believe that two heads are better than one, so we collaborate. If treatment in another POA practice area makes sense, we won’t hesitate to make that referral.
We are community orthopaedic surgeons. When our patients have a question for Dr. Lamb, they get a call from Dr. Lamb. We provide a great product that we deliver personally to the people of our community with great care.
Why is this so important to us? We’re long-time members of our communities. We live here, and we love being here. We see our patients on the sports field, grocery store, bike trails, and taking our kids to school. The people who walk through our doors are more than patients — they’re neighbors. We know you, and we want to give you the best care possible. You don’t need to drive two hours to receive the proper treatment. We can provide that here.
“You want your neighbors to be well; you want the individuals around you to be well, and the better your community is, the safer and more productive your life will be, as well as your community,” said Dr. Jeffrey S. Abrams, a shoulder specialist with POA.
We serve our neighbors just like we would serve our family. That’s part of the community of extraordinary care you’ll find at POA.
“All of our partners are so well qualified that I’m very comfortable for any one of them to take care of my family members, and they have,” said Dr. Hari P. Bezwada. “So it’s not just a practice, it’s not just a group of partners, it’s more of a family more than anything else.”
World-Class Care for Central New Jersey
When a patient visits us with pain, we don’t just shuffle them off to the first doctor available. They meet with a physician’s assistant who will talk with them about their pain, lifestyle, and goals for their recovery.
The physician’s assistant will obtain preliminary x-rays and MRI scans to refer them to the correct orthopaedic doctor so that doctor has all the information they need to suggest the proper treatment.
These steps are just the beginning. We do more than study an x-ray. We get to know you as a patient because we want to get you to the best place possible. We want to know your goals for your treatment and recovery. Are you looking to alleviate your pain, or do you want to get back on the football field? Do you want to be able to take a simple walk, or do you have dreams of running a marathon? Whatever your activity level, whatever your goals, we want to do everything we can to get you where you want to be.
“One of the advantages of Princeton Orthopaedics is that we are specialists, so we are experts in what we do,” said Dr. Stuart Levine, a foot and ankle specialist with POA. “We have people who, if you have a shoulder problem [we have] an expert in your shoulder. We have people for your knees; they’re experts in the knees.”
We don’t treat x-rays. We don’t treat test results. We treat people.
What makes POA different is vision and purpose. So many businesses - let alone medical professionals or orthopaedic surgeons - lack vision. A motto. A guiding light around which all care is focused. Our mission guides the way we treat patients, every single day.
Our mission is simple, yet powerful. We are a Community of Extraordinary care.
One of the ways we stay true to our vision is by extensive collaboration - Princeton Orthopaedic Associates prides itself on how we work together as a collaborative, effective, laser-focused team…
Not only do we serve the community, we are a community - A community of professionals dedicated to patient-first, collaborative care that makes people feel delighted that they chose us for their orthopedic care.
We treat humans. Humans that have emotions, fears, frustrations, and concerns. We don’t just fix medical problems. How you feel about the care you received is so important to us. We never want to lose track of that guiding principle.
That means our patient doesn’t just have one doctor working on their case. We talk to each other and work with each other to provide the absolute best, most comprehensive care for our patients.
We are a collaborative community of doctors, teams, and physical therapists serving a fantastic community. We see our patients on the soccer fields, at the grocery store, or on the bike trails. That community connection in Central New Jersey drives us to provide you with the best, most extraordinary care we can.
When we say we collaborate, we don’t simply mean with one another. We collaborate with you, the patient, and take your treatment goals into account. Are you looking to get back onto the playing field, to go for a daily walk or bike ride, or to live a normal, everyday life without pain? Your goals are our goals, and we take them seriously. So our first steps are to learn more about you and collaborate with you to customize treatment oriented to your goals.
Two (or Three… or Five) Heads Are Better Than One
The collaboration doesn’t stop there, however. We believe the best results come by collaborating with one another. Our doctors often collaborate with each other to ensure each patient receives the best treatment.
Sometimes, one health issue can cause other health issues. Our doctors often consult with each other on our most complex cases, ensuring every course of treatment is backed up by the best thinking in the field.
Getting Started in Our Collaborative Community
It’s easy to join our collaborative care in an extraordinary community. Simply call or text us to set up an appointment. We will work with you to determine the best course of treatment, whether it’s making a few lifestyle changes, getting physical therapy, or having surgery. You will have the benefit of working with a team of doctors, nurses, assistants, and physical therapists who collaborate to meet your goals and achieve your dreams. Contact us today!
Now, on the surface, this begs the question, “Right, but aren’t ALL medical professionals outcome-focused? What makes POA special?!” This is the most important question you could ask when it comes to your medical care - let alone trying to find an orthopaedic surgeon or therapist! We welcome questions like this because they demand excellence - and we’re serious about excellence.
We don’t believe in cookie-cutter treatment plans. We know that every patient has different injuries and different goals - different desires, different bodies, different hopes for what life should look like after orthopaedic care. Maybe you simply want to return to a normal lifestyle, or perhaps you want to run a marathon!
Whatever your goal is, that’s our goal, too!
Outcome-Focused Care
What does Outcome-focused care mean?
Outcome-focused care means listening to what you want and doing our absolute best to give it to you. Outcome-focused care means listening - closely and intently - first and foremost. Outcome-focused care means that we will never ignore how you feel and never ignore your input.
The POA Approach
There is no one-size-fits-all approach to patient care
Treating a 50-year-old patient the same as a 20-year-old patient does not help the patient. This approach doesn’t consider the patient’s age, activity level, or lifestyle. The result is often unnecessary treatments, unnecessary visits, and unnecessary COST that serve the business more than the patient.
Princeton Orthopaedic Associates has a vastly different approach to treating our patients. Our doctors take the time to get to know our patients, understand them, and recommend treatments that advance their overall objectives. That means we won’t recommend surgery or other procedures if we feel they will not benefit you.
We treat you as an individual from the moment you walk through our doors. With the help of our physician’s assistants, doctors, teams, and therapists, we will tailor a treatment that takes what you want into account. Whether you want to get back to your active lifestyle or just want a non-invasive treatment that helps manage your pain, we can create a plan that suits you best.
Evidence-Based Treatment, Focused Specialists
Providing care that is based on sound science, sound research and proven, but cutting-edge, techniques is what we’re all about. We provide world-class orthopaedic care that advances our patients’ recovery through evidence-based procedures. This means we don’t perform costly or unnecessary procedures, and we don’t perform procedures if the likelihood of success isn’t high.
We don’t experiment on our patients. We rely on proven treatments that we know will yield results. However, if new and better ways are proven to work for our patients, we will be among the first to adopt those treatments. For example, we use more non-invasive surgeries as they are perfected and become more beneficial for our patients. Our goal is to get you back to the best you possible, period.
Get Started With POA
Princeton Orthopaedic Associates exists to provide world-class care to our community, the surrounding region, and the greater northeastern United States in a highly collaborative, patient-centered environment. We get to know you not just as our patients but also as our neighbors.
You don’t have to live your life in pain. Call or text us for an appointment, and let us see what we can do for you. What makes POA different is vision. So many businesses - let alone medical professionals or orthopaedic surgeons - lack vision. A motto. A guiding light around which all care is focused.
At Princeton Orthopaedic Associates, our mission is simple. We are a Community of Extraordinary care.
One of the ways we stay true to our vision is by extensive collaboration. You see, not only do we serve the community, we ourselves are a community - A community of professionals dedicated to patient-first, collaborative care. That means our patient doesn’t just have one doctor working on their case. We talk to each other and work with each other to provide the absolute best, most comprehensive care for our patients. We can create a plan to reduce or eliminate your pain, so you can get back to living your life the way you want. Contact us today!
