Stay active while addressing joint pain, inflammation, instability, or arthritis without immediately turning to surgery. Dr. Stephanie Buza, our board-certified orthopedic surgeon, provides non-operative care to help athletes, dancers, and active people move confidently again.
Get Moving Without Rushing Into Surgery
Non-operative care uses treatments that address pain, inflammation, instability, and movement limitations without immediately resorting to surgery. Depending on your condition, Dr. Buza may recommend options like corticosteroid injections, bracing, orthotics, or rehabilitation. The goal is to find the least invasive approach that appropriately addresses your symptoms while supporting how you want to move. That means treatment tailored to your body, activities, and goals for getting back out there.
Non-Operative Care Helps Treat:
- Joint pain and inflammation
- Arthritis-related pain and stiffness
- Mild to moderate musculoskeletal injuries
- Joint instability that may benefit from bracing
- Movement limitations affecting everyday activities
- Overuse injuries from sports, dance, or training
- Hip, knee, and shoulder pain
- Alignment or biomechanical concerns that may benefit from orthotics
Your Non-Operative Care Options
Finding the right treatment starts with figuring out what’s actually causing your pain. Dr. Buza looks at your symptoms, how your joint moves, and what you need your body to do, whether that means competing, dancing, working out, or simply getting through your day comfortably. Imaging may also be used when needed to help guide your treatment plan.
Bracing and Orthotics
Sometimes, giving your body the right support can make movement easier. A brace can help stabilize a joint and limit movements that trigger instability. Orthotics sit inside your shoes and can change how weight and pressure travel through your feet and legs. They may improve alignment, redistribute stress, and make walking, running, or training more comfortable.
Corticosteroid Injections
When inflammation is driving your pain, a corticosteroid injection may provide relief. Medication is injected directly into or around the painful joint or tissue to calm inflammation at the source. Reducing that irritation can make movement easier and may help you participate in physical therapy. Dr. Buza considers injections as part of your overall treatment plan.
Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation
Physical therapy can target weakness, stiffness, balance, and movement patterns that may be contributing to symptoms. Exercises become progressively more challenging as you improve. If you’re an athlete or dancer, rehabilitation can eventually include running, jumping, pivoting, or performance-specific movements that prepare your body for what you want to return to.
Non-Operative Management of Arthritis
Having arthritis doesn’t necessarily mean giving up the activities you enjoy. Dr. Buza can combine strategies such as activity modification, strengthening, physical therapy, bracing, orthotics, or injections when appropriate. The focus is on managing pain and stiffness while maintaining mobility and function, so you can find realistic ways to stay active.
Benefits of Non-Operative Care:
- Treatment without the recovery and risks associated with surgery
- Care tailored to your specific symptoms, activities, and goals
- Improved joint support and stability with bracing when appropriate
- Better alignment and distribution of pressure with orthotics
- Progressive improvements in strength, mobility, and movement
- Strategies for staying active while managing arthritis or injury
- Treatment plans that can adapt as your symptoms and function change
- A focus on preserving comfortable movement and joint function
- The possibility of delaying or avoiding surgery when appropriate
Get Back to Doing What You Love.
Schedule Your Consultation for Non-Operative Care in NYC
Dr. Stephanie Buza is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon specializing in sports medicine. As a former classically trained ballet dancer, she understands how frustrating it is when pain limits the way you move. When appropriate, she prioritizes non-surgical options to help you return to what matters to you. Schedule your consultation for non-operative care in New York City today.
