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Practical Office Orthopedics


A comprehensive full-color guide to orthopedics in the primary care setting

Especially written for the practitioner of general medicine, Practical Office Orthopedics delivers outstanding full-color drawings, state-of-the-art radiographs, and a step-by-step approach to the evaluation and management of common bone and musculoskeletal complaints.

This unique text is authored by Dr. Edward (Ted) Parks, whose practical orthopedics workshops at the annual, as well as regional, American College of Physicians Conferences have received top ratings from primary care providers of every experience level. Common injuries to the knee, the shoulder, the hip, hand/wrist/elbow, foot/ankle, and the spine are covered in detail. Readers will find a consistent chapter template that presents information logically and facilitates treatment and learning: Physical Exam, Imaging and Other Diagnostic Studies, and Medical, Surgical and Follow-Up Treatment.

FEATURES:

•Full-color presentation illustrates musculoskeletal anatomy and procedures in great detail

•Perfect for the generalist who does not require an exhaustive orthopedic text

•Important chapters on injection techniques, orthopedic emergencies, and fracture management

•Interesting and instructive “Sidebars” emphasize the “back stories” of the conditions presented, and make it easier to remember the material

 

If you are in need of a practical, easy-to-use text on the orthopedics most often encountered in a primary care setting, your search ends here.

38 reviews for Practical Office Orthopedics

  1. Seanzilla
    February 27, 2026
    Well written and great visual references.
    Nicely written with clear-cut recommendations and photos) illustrations. I have used this as a reference for several patients thus far. Would only imp...More
    Nicely written with clear-cut recommendations and photos) illustrations. I have used this as a reference for several patients thus far. Would only improve with a greater amount of clinical diagnostic exam types/names.
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    Julie
    July 8, 2025
    Must have for Primary care
    This really is a great book!!! Easy reading and great examples!! I am in primary care and this book has been so helpful!
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    Katia Kelty
    April 26, 2025
    High yield gold mine
    Readable, relevant, applicable. Has everything a PCP needs to know about how to diagnose and treat the most common orthopedic pathology including join...More
    Readable, relevant, applicable. Has everything a PCP needs to know about how to diagnose and treat the most common orthopedic pathology including joint injections. I enjoyed Dr. Parks' narration and voice, which was entertaining and engaging; I don't usually have the patience for text books but this was a great read. The only thing missing is ultrasound. Will be highly recommending to my fellow FM residents
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    Cfred
    March 15, 2025
    Good book
    Every thing you need to know and with excellent diagrams.
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    Makiera Robinson
    June 7, 2024
    Concise and Helpful
    I really appreciate this book and find myself using it multiple times per week in my family practice clinic. The explanations of commonly diagnosed MS...More
    I really appreciate this book and find myself using it multiple times per week in my family practice clinic. The explanations of commonly diagnosed MSK conditions and how to differentiate between conditions is fantastic. The length of the readings is perfect, the organization of the book is great and has increased my confidence with treatment plans for orthopedic diagnoses. 10/10 recommendation for primary care.
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    Kindle Customer 1
    June 5, 2023
    Enjoyable to read and helpful!!
    Through the inclusion of figures, clear explanations, and helpful tips, it is evident that the author has put considerable effort into ensuring an eng...More
    Through the inclusion of figures, clear explanations, and helpful tips, it is evident that the author has put considerable effort into ensuring an engaging experience for the audience.
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    Minnesota Meg
    December 4, 2022
    The best resource EVER
    I cannot sat enough good things about this book. This book saved my life in terms of ortho knowledge. I went from being so confused (especially about ...More
    I cannot sat enough good things about this book. This book saved my life in terms of ortho knowledge. I went from being so confused (especially about shoulder pathology), to having full understanding of common orthopedic conditions. It brings in the anatomy and physiology of each joint to help you understand the pathology. I feel so much more competent in my practice having read this book. Thank you, Dr. Parks!
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    Jimmy & Katelinde
    November 4, 2022
    Excellent read and resource!
    This is a great book for anyone wanting to add to their orthopedic knowledge. Very easy to read and understand. I'm an occupational medicine PA-C an...More
    This is a great book for anyone wanting to add to their orthopedic knowledge. Very easy to read and understand. I'm an occupational medicine PA-C and this greatly improved my orthopedic decision making and treatment skills. Highly recommended!
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    Nancy Hartman
    August 19, 2022
    Clear and basic info that’s a good read
    I learned about this book when I heard Dr. Parks speak on an episode of the Curbsiders podcast for internal medicine. I so enjoyed his discussion and ...More
    I learned about this book when I heard Dr. Parks speak on an episode of the Curbsiders podcast for internal medicine. I so enjoyed his discussion and was not surprised to find that when his book arrived I appreciated it just as much. I don’t think this is for anyone practicing advanced orthopedics but for a primary care mid-level provider it is just perfect.
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    Richard
    July 30, 2022
    Covers relevant GP orthopaedics
    Clear diagrams illustrate important concepts
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    Sam Sultan
    May 1, 2022
    Not confident with orthopedic exams? Buy this now.
    I bought the kindle version (simply because it's quick to get). Book is incredibly easy to understand and written for the lay person. I'm FM so this i...More
    I bought the kindle version (simply because it's quick to get). Book is incredibly easy to understand and written for the lay person. I'm FM so this is great for my clinic. Definitely going to give me the confidence examining the various joints which was always a weak point
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    Autumn Montgomery
    March 20, 2022
    Great Overview for APRN in primary care
    This book has an excellent overview of common orthopedic problems that we see day in and out in the primary care setting. Further, if you are just sta...More
    This book has an excellent overview of common orthopedic problems that we see day in and out in the primary care setting. Further, if you are just starting bout it gives you a look at what happens to your patient if you send them to an orthopedic office. It's good to be able to know what your patient can expect, discuss possible treatment options before referring. Also, the chapter at the end of the book that details how to give injections in different areas and drug formulations is extremely useful, just wish it came in a spiral bound format. Overall, excellent book for increasing your Ortho skills and knowledge in the primary care setting.
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    Film Fanatic
    March 9, 2022
    I wish I had read this book in medical school
    I'm transitioning from hospital practice to primary care, and bought a number of books to help improve my clinical skills. This book fit the bill PERF...More
    I'm transitioning from hospital practice to primary care, and bought a number of books to help improve my clinical skills. This book fit the bill PERFECTLY. The author explains different diseases and his approach succinctly and directly. He gives great analogies (that I'm filing away to share with patients) that help illustrate the concepts. The book is well-illustrated. I particularly like the frequent sidebars-- when I find I'm losing focus getting through the main material, I read a tidbit from one of the sidebars and that's enough of a break. I wish this book had been around when I was in medical school, because examining knees/shoulders/hips would have made much more sense.

    I would recommend this book for:
    -Medical Students learning how to do an Orthopedic Exam (and who want to know what they're actually testing for)
    -Residents looking to develop skills at Orthopedic examination and diagnosis
    -Primary Care physicians looking to hone their Orthopedic diagnostic skills, or figure out how to better-treat patients in-house without blindly referring every joint pain to a specialist.
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    Conor
    February 12, 2022
    Great resource, highly recommend
    Been an Ortho PA for the last year, fresh out of school. This book has been a great resource for me to return to for quick reference in the clinic (st...More
    Been an Ortho PA for the last year, fresh out of school. This book has been a great resource for me to return to for quick reference in the clinic (steroid injections, treatment options) as well as great patient education material and simple concepts. Its a book I return to often for refreshers and guidance. Highly recommended!
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    Laura Misthal
    December 9, 2021
    A must purchase
    High yield diagnoses, as well as quick review of “zebras.” Simple, straightforward, entertaining, so much information packed in but not overwhelming....More
    High yield diagnoses, as well as quick review of “zebras.” Simple, straightforward, entertaining, so much information packed in but not overwhelming. A great resource for any practitioner that will be seeing office type orthopedics! So glad I purchased, highly recommend.
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    Jodi Dingle
    September 10, 2021
    Just fantastic
    This is one of the best, if not the best, book I have ever read where a specialist takes big topics and gives the relevant details for a general pract...More
    This is one of the best, if not the best, book I have ever read where a specialist takes big topics and gives the relevant details for a general practitioner. The book is even entertaining and pleasant to read. I wish this was a whole series!
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    J
    August 30, 2021
    The best!
    Best simplistic ortho explanations. Perfect for FNPs.
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    Eric Johnson
    July 20, 2021
    An amazing book!
    I'm a physician asssistant in Emergency Medicine and Urgent care. This book was absolutely amazing! It was easy (and enjoyable) to read, and broke dow...More
    I'm a physician asssistant in Emergency Medicine and Urgent care. This book was absolutely amazing! It was easy (and enjoyable) to read, and broke down the idea of pathology and treatment behind common orthopedic findings in a beautiful and understandable manner. Plus, it was quite funny! Honestly one of the best reads, I feel like my knowledge about the basics of orthopedics has tremendously improved. Highly recommend!!!
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    Kelly
    April 16, 2021
    Very good resource for Orthopedics
    I'm a family practice NP and had such a good time diagnosing orthopedic related issues. I wish I had've purchased it sooner.
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    Diveaggie05
    April 5, 2021
    Great book
    Great book for someone who is starting out as a practitioner. I did not have a lot of orthopedic experience but this book has been super helpful helpi...More
    Great book for someone who is starting out as a practitioner. I did not have a lot of orthopedic experience but this book has been super helpful helping me feel more confident in my assessments.
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    Casey
    February 8, 2021
    Fantastic book
    I work in family practice and this book has been extremely helpful. I use it regularly, it is helpful with exam tips and differential diagnoses. It is...More
    I work in family practice and this book has been extremely helpful. I use it regularly, it is helpful with exam tips and differential diagnoses. It is straight forward and easy to use. Highly recommend for anyone that needs a little guidance when it comes to ortho complaints
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    Felice Howard
    December 18, 2020
    Concise, clear orthopedics for this internist- great information
    Great firmst for non-orthopedists- explains exams extremely well. Heard Dr Parks on The Curbsiders and learned about his book — definitely worth havin...More
    Great firmst for non-orthopedists- explains exams extremely well. Heard Dr Parks on The Curbsiders and learned about his book — definitely worth having!
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    Victoria
    August 17, 2020
    Very useful
    I work as an ARNP in a pain management office and this is a great refresher and reference for patients who come in with musculoskeletal pain. For each...More
    I work as an ARNP in a pain management office and this is a great refresher and reference for patients who come in with musculoskeletal pain. For each area, there's MRI images and specific tests to rule out each diagnosis. I'd definitely recommend it
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    Gisela
    February 16, 2020
    Must-read book for any general practitioner
    This is an excellent overview of the most frequent orthopedic pathologies seen in general practice and explained in a very simple way. A must-read!
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    Amazonbuyer
    October 12, 2019
    Highly recommend!!
    This is an excellent book!! I needed to brush up on a few things as I just got a job as an NP in a physical medicine and rehab clinic! This book was e...More
    This is an excellent book!! I needed to brush up on a few things as I just got a job as an NP in a physical medicine and rehab clinic! This book was excellent at helping me refresh anatomy and different common conditions as well as emergency conditions! It really explains it in a way that makes it easier for you as a provider to explain these conditions to patients something that is not always easy to do. It really “dumbs” stuff down but then ends up tying everything together with a more in depth explanation which is wonderful! Highly recommend!
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    Allyandra
    August 28, 2019
    Wow!
    This book is the best book in ortho i came across. If i could personnaly thank the authour i would.
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    dmckain
    July 7, 2019
    Great book for Ortho in Clincal Practice
    This is a great book to have as reference in your office books.
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    M. Campbell
    December 2, 2018
    Best ortho book for outpatient providers
    Clear explanations of issues surrounding common ortho conditions with practical discussion of management. Essentials of MSK Care used to be my favori...More
    Clear explanations of issues surrounding common ortho conditions with practical discussion of management. Essentials of MSK Care used to be my favorite ortho book, but this one is even more useful despite being nowhere near the size/cost. Highly recommended for all out-patient providers.
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    Aubrey W Rose
    November 24, 2018
    Great for PCP
    Great for primary care. Injection section perfect!
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    audy
    November 18, 2018
    BUY IT!
    I’m in family medicine. I’ve had multiple medical textbooks that were ‘forced’ upon me to read during school. I just graduated and in my first year. T...More
    I’m in family medicine. I’ve had multiple medical textbooks that were ‘forced’ upon me to read during school. I just graduated and in my first year. This might be the first textbook that I actually enjoyed reading, so much so that I get occasionally get frusted if I don’t have time to read it after clinic duties. Dr. Parks lays out the most usual orthopedic conditions that are seen in primary care offices in a really easily digestable manner. My confidence in dealing with orthopedic conditions has increased considerably since reading this. This is NOT the type of textbook that will lull you to sleep.
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    Uppie
    November 15, 2018
    Can't be beat for a PCP!
    I'm an FNP at a community health clinic and I LOVE this little book! I'm an avid fan of the Curbsiders (podcast) and they interviewed the author for a...More
    I'm an FNP at a community health clinic and I LOVE this little book! I'm an avid fan of the Curbsiders (podcast) and they interviewed the author for an episode on knee pain. I learned so much from the interview, and then looked up the book to find out more. So glad I did! I actually bring this little book into the patient room with me sometimes, when I am explaining something. It's surprisingly easy to read (and even entertaining!), and I read it cover-to-cover the first few days I had it. It's just enough info to be comprehensive but not too laden with detail for someone who isn't in an ortho specialty but just wants a good overview on assessment and management. Can't recommend it enough!
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    Delia R Shanahan
    November 3, 2018
    Excellent book
    It is as the title suggests, very practical and helpful for primary care providers - it is well written, great photos/graphics, useful information. Gl...More
    It is as the title suggests, very practical and helpful for primary care providers - it is well written, great photos/graphics, useful information. Glad I bought this book.
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    jdouglas
    August 21, 2018
    Best ortho book for office practice
    This book is fantastic. I’m a family practice physician and this book simplifies every major orthopedic issue down to its most distilled form. Simples...More
    This book is fantastic. I’m a family practice physician and this book simplifies every major orthopedic issue down to its most distilled form. Simplest way to take the history, do the exam, and treat. The anatomy is simplified to be more understandable than any other orthopedic reference I’ve seen. I heard the author on The Curbsiders podcast and loved his approach so I bought the book. So glad I did.
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    Bridget
    August 19, 2018
    Recommend this for NPs & PAs
    I heard Dr Parks talk on The Curbsiders’ podcast. This has been the best ortho text I have found yet. Its an easy read and he has a gift for breaking ...More
    I heard Dr Parks talk on The Curbsiders’ podcast. This has been the best ortho text I have found yet. Its an easy read and he has a gift for breaking down difficult concepts and explaining them in a simple manner. I’m currently working as a nurse practitioner.
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    donny cohen
    July 26, 2018
    Excellent for anyone
    Great book because of it's simplicity. Teaches new things also to orthopedic residents years in the field. Very very recommended.
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    M2J3
    July 10, 2018
    High Yield
    Excellent book covering topics commonly seen in a family physician’s office. Very practical.
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    Julie
    June 8, 2018
    Listen to the podacast too
    Loved the podcast (Curbsiders) where Dr. Parks is a guest and decided to purchase the book because there was so much wonderful content shared on the e...More
    Loved the podcast (Curbsiders) where Dr. Parks is a guest and decided to purchase the book because there was so much wonderful content shared on the episode. I am a newer practicing FNP in need of some help with ortho. Thank you Dr. Parks & The Curbsiders!
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    Maester
    January 31, 2018
    Superfan of this great book!
    Internal medicine physician for 17 years here. I preordered this book after seeing Dr. Parks give amazing talks on the knee and the shoulder at the A...More
    Internal medicine physician for 17 years here. I preordered this book after seeing Dr. Parks give amazing talks on the knee and the shoulder at the American College of Physicians conference. The book does not disappoint. He talks about internists who are comfortable with septic shock but terrified of a sprained ankle. This was me! The book is entertaining (with interested trivia bits) and educational. He demystifies orthopedic conditions and gives a non orthopedist confidence in dealing with patients and making decisions. I feel like I understand orthopedic problems much better after reading this book. I am more confident in my patient care and also more confident talking with my patients. The book includes what is useful to know. Unlike many ortho review articles, he doesn't waste time on useless physical exam techniques from the stone age with sensitivity and specificity of 10%. He focuses on what is important. Lots of high quality photos and diagrams. An extensive final chapter on multiple injection techniques. I highly recommend this book to any internist, FP doc, hospitalist, NP or PA. I love to learn and this book was a pleasure.
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