Dr. Michael Sander, Orthopedic Surgeon, to speak at
free “Senior Health Talk” March 7 at Knapp Medical Center
Arthritis of the knee – and how to manage pain that many seniors
experience while walking, going up the stairs, etc. – will be discussed
during a free “Senior Health Talk” for the community by Dr.
Michael Sander, Orthopedic Surgeon, on Tuesday, March 7, at 12:30 p.m.
at the Knapp Conference Center, 700 Knapp Medical Boulevard in Weslaco.
As part of his talk, Dr. Sander will discuss the option of knee replacement
surgery which, in many cases, can help restore mobility to patients with
arthritis and other conditions, by allowing them to walk again without
pain. Many Valley residents and Winter Texans who have received this surgery
say they simply want to be ridden of their pain, so they can return to
a ‘normal life’ with their grandchildren and to activities
they enjoy.
"These are patients whose ability to walk and move is restricted by
severe pain,” Dr. Sander said. “In many cases, we can replace
the damaged parts of knee and hip joints with specially-crafted prostheses
made from plastic or metal. Patients are then on the road to recovery,
with the help of physical therapy. It’s not easy -- but the end
result in many cases is to gain a new freedom – the freedom to walk,
move, and even dance without pain.”
Following their surgery, these patients are helped by physical therapists
and other licensed professionals with the Knapp Medical Center Rehabilitation
Services Department, which is accredited by national accrediting organization
for healthcare organizations, the Joint Commission. These therapists work
closely with physicians to provide a complete range of therapies and treatment,
including for patients recovering from surgery, as well as for those with
arthritis; osteoporosis; joint, neck and back pain; and sports and work injuries.
Dr. Sander, a Weslaco native, has treated orthopedic surgery and sports
medicine patients in Weslaco for more than 10 years. He is board-certified
in Orthopedic Surgery and Sports Medicine by the American Board of Orthopedic Surgery.
“We have been serving the orthopedic needs of the Mid-Valley since
2006,” Dr. Sander said. “I am a Rio Grande Valley native who
returned to the area after 15 years of education to practice medicine
and raise my family. I am proud of my family’s history here, which
includes a tradition of healthcare and community leadership going back
two generations in the Mid-Valley and Brownsville areas.”
Dr. Sander received his medical degree from the Baylor College of Medicine,
graduating with honors. He went on to complete a residency in Orthopedic
Surgery at the University of Iowa Department of Orthopedics and Rehabilitation,
and a fellowship in Orthopedic Sports Medicine at the University of Texas
Health Science Center San Antonio.
Knapp’s Senior Health Talks are free and open to the public, and
include refreshments and a drawing for door prizes – including gift
certificates for local restaurants. For more information, or to RSVP for
Dr. Sander’s Senior Health Talk on March 7 at 12:30 p.m. in the
Knapp Conference Center, please call Michael Swartz with Knapp’s
Business Development & Marketing Department at (956) 973-5142 or email
MSwartz@PrimeHealthCare.com.