One of the major advances in the field of orthopedic surgery was the development of the arthroscope. Instead of long incisions across the knee or shoulder to get inside a joint, surgeons can now use arthroscopic surgery to look inside almost any joint in the body through two or three small incisions.

Arthroscopic surgery wasn’t just an ability to look inside a joint to tell what was going on, although that was a main use for these procedures in the 1970s and 1980s. Instead of the damage to muscles, ligaments and tendons through the traditional open surgeries, arthroscopic surgeries were much less invasive. Patients could regain range of motion and strength quicker, and they could return to sports and exercise more confidently.

In my new book, That’s Gotta Hurt: The Injuries That Changed Sports Forever, I discuss Joan Benoit and her triumph in the U.S. Marathon Trials only 17 days after undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery. Her surgery and recovery helped raise awareness of these surgeries, which were largely unheard of at the time.

But even today, could you – or any athlete – return to your prior level of athletic performance so quickly, even if the surgery was performed through a scope?

Also read:
Arthroscopic knee surgery: What you need to know

If you’re an athlete or just love to exercise, Joan Benoit’s story can help you overcome aches and pains to do what you love to do. Order your copy now from Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Books-A-Million, Apple iBookstore, Target, IndieBound or Powell’s Books.

Also read:
Arthroscopic shoulder surgery: What you need to know