Physique and orthopedics

[Ian]

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Hi all, I'm still a medical student and I'm interested in ortho. The pods who teach in our class are all big guys and fit in the "ortho" stereotype. I'm athletic, but I run and bike, hence I'm skinny (5'6" 120lbs). Do I need a lot of upper-body strength to do ortho? Is the stereotype there for a reason?

Thanks.

 

[scottie7397]

No. Your strength needs to be internal. The people that enjoy Ortho are VERY Type A. Often times our outlet is physical fitness...but not always. Some of my colleagues should spend more time in the gym...including myself.

 

[spartywrx]

Beaumont (Mi) ortho program has a resident who is about 5'3" and around 120lbs.

A few of my classmates applying for ortho are average sized women. I'm pretty average (5'10" 180). There are indeed some retired linebackers in ortho, but there are a lot of average sized people too.

Although when standing there holding a leg of a 250lb guy getting a knee replacement, a few more pounds on my bench press wouldn't have hurt.

 

[naus]

Does something like pulling traction require a lot of strength?

 

[Mr. Freeze]

Unless you are under the pt., I can't see where a bigger bench will help you. Maybe for holding ankle reductions? Overhead press for prepping?

French pull ups and good mornings FTW...

Yes, pulling on Fatty McGillacutty's disgustingly fat ****ing leg, against some of the skrongest muscles in the body, gripping her Cankles soaked with blood, requires strenf. My forearms are harder than woodpecker lips.

 

[MossPoh]

Unless you are under the pt., I can't see where a bigger bench will help you. Maybe for holding ankle reductions? Overhead press for prepping?

French pull ups and good mornings FTW...

Yes, pulling on Fatty McGillacutty's disgustingly fat ****ing leg, against some of the skrongest muscles in the body, gripping her Cankles soaked with blood, requires strenf. My forearms are harder than woodpecker lips.

Come on now, you should know that the biggest factor to whether you land that big bench is upper back strength. 😉

 

[Buckeye(OH)]

To be honest, yes it does matter. There have definitely been times where I have been at a disadvantage because of my height (5'6"). Things like anterograde nailing of the tibia require a long arm span which I just don't have so it is somewhat of a struggle for me. Maybe thats why I am going into hand 😉

 

[naus]

Do residents even have enough time to work out and stay in shape?

I get flabby pretty fast without routine exercise...