Do You Have to Be Strong for Orthopedic Surgery?

No, you don’t.

Most orthopedic surgeons are bigger doctors. A lot of us are former athletes. I think it’s just because you play sports in high school or college, and the doctors you’re exposed to are orthopedic surgeons. Because a lot of athletes have injuries.

When you attend medical school, the kids tend to be more athletic. There are plenty of great athletes who don’t become orthopedic surgeons when they’re in med school, and there are plenty of orthopedic surgeons who don’t play sports.

Generally, they tend to be more sporty guys, and the surgeries are slightly more physically demanding. But again, all the new tools and techniques don’t require force, and the more experienced I get, the less and less I use my body in surgery. It’s more just a kind of leverage.

You don’t need to be super strong to do these surgeries. It’s more about thinking the right way and using the proper techniques.