Understanding the anatomy of the body is the key for the successful treatment and prevention of injuries and disease. The goal of an orthopedic surgeon, for that matter, is to both treat and educate their patients. An orthopedic doctor specializes in conditions, diseases, and injuries pertaining to the musculoskeletal system. In other words, these doctors play a critical role in the diagnosis, treatment, prevention, and rehabilitation of musculoskeletal conditions affecting the bones, nerves, joints, ligaments, and connective tissue.
Orthopedic doctors also work in both hospitals and specialized practices to treat infections, sports injuries, broken bones, sprains and strains, joint problems, and degenerative conditions such as arthritis and osteoporosis. Considering there are more than 28 million Americans who develop some type of musculoskeletal problem each year, orthopedic medicine is a high priority.
Gaining access to good healthcare depends largely on the specialist you see, and for joint pain it can get tricky. Doing research, and talking to others can help you choose the right orthopedic doctor. Dr. James Talkington is an expert orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine specialist that understands the anatomy of the human body, and his experience and satisfied patients help to show what kind of care you will receive from his practice.
Dr. Talkington is the founder of Florida Sportsmedicine and Orthopedics, which was established in 1989. With the realization that athletes or non-athletes don’t just see a sports medicine or orthopedic specialist for sport-related injuries alone, he recognized that people were coming to the practice because they were suffering from any number of injuries or conditions affecting the musculoskeletal system. Don’t let the name fool you, Florida Sportsmedicine is a full-scale orthopedic practice, focusing on workers’ compensation cases and general orthopedic treatment, along with sports medicine.
A few years after completing his medical training, in 1980, Dr. Talkington graduated from the University of Mississippi School of Medicine, graduating magna cum laude, and second in his class. After completing a four-year residency in orthopedic surgery at University Hospital in Jacksonville, Florida in 1984, Dr. Talkington pursued a sports medicine fellowship at the University of Chicago. When he opened his practice in Panama City, he was the first sports medicine doctor in Bay County.
Dr. Talkington is board certified by the American Board of Orthopedic Surgeons. He has hospital privileges at Gulf Coast Medical Center and Northwest Florida Surgery Center, and is an active member of the American Medical Association and Bays Medical Society.
Due to the realization that good orthopedic care with a specialization in sports medicine is a need rather than a privilege, Dr. Talkington wants patients to know that he and his team pride themselves on providing customized orthopedic care with a focus on patient education. The more a patient is involved with their recovery and rehabilitation, the more successful their outcome will typically be.
