Muscles, joints and bones benefit from exercises like walking, resistance training and stretching.
A recent paper published in the journal “Calcified Tissue International” recommends people of all ages engage in regular physical activity and reduce a sedentary lifestyle for long-term bone health.
The study suggests staying physically active improves bone mineral density and reduces fracture risk. Being sedentary, however, accelerates bone loss, stiffness and fracture risk.
Take Action During Bone and Joint Week
Bone and Joint Health National Action Week (Oct. 12-20) highlights preserving and protecting one’s musculoskeletal (MSK) health. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle with exercise and nutrition, and early screening for osteoporosis, arthritis and spinal issues, benefits a person’s quality of life.
The weeklong observance includes World Spine Day on Oct. 16, which “calls on individuals to adopt healthy habits such as maintaining good posture, engaging in regular physical activity and creating ergonomically friendly environments.”
Address Chronic Joint Pain
MSK conditions and arthritis-induced chronic joint pain contribute to disability and limited mobility for billions of people worldwide. Doctors may prescribe treatment plans to include medications and modified exercise programs for some patients and recommend surgery for others.
An estimated 790,000 total knee replacements and 544,000 hip replacements are completed every year in the U.S. According to the “Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery,” between 174,000 and 350,000 shoulder replacement surgeries are projected this year in the U.S.
Recent reports indicate that orthopedic procedures like total knee, hip and shoulder replacements are moving rapidly from hospital settings to ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs).
AMSURG ASCs Prioritize Patient Care
AMSURG ASCs provide excellent care for patients daily. With more than 400 affiliated orthopedic physicians and 700+ affiliated MSK physicians, we perform more than 3,600 total joint replacements (TJR) and 130,000+ MSK procedures at more than 250 facilities nationwide.
“The [TJR] operation is basically the same as what we would do at the hospital,” said AMSURG physician partner Rajesh B. Makim, M.D., Blue Water Surgery Center, Port Huron, Michigan. “The costs are lower, and we have a more streamlined approach to getting people in and out of the door without compromising any patient care.”
ASCs offer same-day procedures using advanced technology in a comfortable setting with shorter waiting times, often at lower out-of-pocket costs. Patients have the convenience of recovering at home.
AMSURG physician partner Thomas E. Bates, M.D., has been doing outpatient TJRs at The Surgical Center of Morehead City in North Carolina for several years.
“That really has been a game-changer in the way of recovery and satisfaction from patients and their families,” he said.
Doctors determine whether patients are suitable for outpatient surgery based on their age, existing medical conditions and the support they receive at home.
“I tell you it was great for me,” said 65-year-old military veteran Jerry Novak, who had both knees replaced by Brad S. Cohen, M.D., at Poway Surgery Center in Poway, California. “I just like the idea of having comprehensive care in one place. It just seemed like a good fit for me. And it worked really well.”
About AMSURG
AMSURG is an independent leader in ambulatory surgery center services, operating a network of more than 250 surgery centers nationwide. In partnership with physicians and health systems, the organization delivers high-quality patient care across a diverse spectrum of medical specialties, including gastroenterology, ophthalmology and orthopedics. Guided by its core values — Care Deeply, Champion Excellence, Cultivate Integrity and Celebrate Teamwork — AMSURG is committed to transforming the future of ambulatory surgery center care and services with a focus on strategic growth and innovation. To learn more about AMSURG, visit www.amsurg.com.
Ohio University student Madi Brown leads an active lifestyle. She stays busy studying communications, working in tourism and caring for her cherished 10-year-old beagle mix, Smoke.
After months of uncertainty about her health, Brown scheduled a visit with her board-certified gastroenterologist and AMSURG partner physician Jigna Thakore, M.D.
“I don’t like to surrender control … So, being put to sleep and just not being aware and the idea of just complete oblivion freaks me out unnecessarily,” she said. “The care team … picked up on that, and they made it so easy.”
“I don’t know if young people understand how important your gut health really is and how impactful that is for your entire body,” Brown said. “The gut says a lot, and when you start to care for that, you’ll notice other parts of your life improving.”
“There were so many good things that were happening during my experience before, during and after the procedure,” she said. “The little moments of Dr. Thakore holding my hand or the anesthesiologist being just so kind and attentive or the nurse answering my questions in the beginning, all of these little things added up to a really good experience that could so easily have just been mediocre or bad.”
In one of the latest stories from 
AMSURG physician partners at Tennessee Endoscopy Center have reached a remarkable milestone: caring for 100,000 patients since opening the doors of their Maryville-based practice in 1980. This achievement is a testament to decades of dedication to compassionate, community-centered care.
Healthy vision enables patients to connect socially, perform daily tasks and maintain independence. When eyesight becomes blurred, faded or unclear, individuals may withdraw from previously routine activities, such as reading, driving or family time.
Abbey Vandersall, MD. Senior Vice President and Chief Clinical Officer at AMSURG (Nashville, Tenn.). As the youngest executive and only physician on AMSURG’s leadership team, Dr. Vandersall oversees clinical quality, safety and patient experience across more than 250 ambulatory surgery centers serving millions annually. She launched AMSURG’s first patient experience program, achieving record satisfaction scores in the company’s 30-plus year history, and led a pilot connecting 10,000 high-risk patients to timely colon cancer screenings. Her advocacy efforts successfully reversed Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts’ decision to stop covering anesthesia for colonoscopies. Dr. Vandersall developed a first-of-its-kind value-based ASC care model that helped align enhanced reimbursement with optimal patient care. Her team’s efforts contributed to 64 AMSURG centers being named among the nation’s best by U.S. News & World Report. She has served on national health organization boards and taskforces, including the American Cancer Society’s national colorectal cancer roundtable, the Colon Cancer Alliance’s “Never Too Young” taskforce, and the Susan G. Komen Foundation board in Nashville. Prior to AMSURG, she played a key role in Nashville, Tenn.-based Envision Healthcare’s $8 billion restructuring, ensuring care continuity for 25,000 clinicians and countless patients.
Wearing thick, heavy glasses wasn’t a style choice for Abi Titus growing up; it was a necessity.
A few months after the Niagara Falls trip, Titus met with ophthalmologist and AMSURG physician partner 
Eight months after her procedure, Titus is filled with gratitude. Life without glasses has brought crystal-clear vision and a brighter outlook.
AMSURG’s 