UAB Joint Care

UAB Joint Care is a program that takes a whole-body approach to the health and function of your joints, including hips, knees, shoulders, and more. As part of UAB Medicine Orthopaedics, we focus on treating severe joint conditions that may eventually require surgery but also on prevention, early intervention, pain management, rehabilitation, and long-term joint health.

Our goal is to help you stay active, manage pain, preserve joint function, and – when possible – safely restore mobility using the most advanced surgical techniques available.

Why joint health matters

Joints are essential for everyday movement, from walking and climbing stairs to playing sports or enjoying time with family. Over time, joints can be affected by wear and tear (due to conditions such as osteoarthritis), injury, inflammation, or aging. UAB Joint Care provides everything from patient education to cutting-edge treatments designed to relieve pain, restore function, and improve quality of life.

Joint Care services

Non-surgical and preventive treatments

We focus on maintaining and improving joint function without surgery whenever possible, including:

• Customized physical therapy and rehabilitation
• Targeted injections (e.g., corticosteroid or orthobiologic options for pain relief and healing)
• Pain management and medication guidance
• Lifestyle counseling, including weight management and exercise guidance

These options help manage symptoms and delay progression of joint problems, to keep you moving longer with less pain.

Hip joint care

We treat everything from minor aches and sports injuries to chronic hip conditions. Our services include:

• Arthritis and bursitis management
• Cartilage and labral repair
• Minimally invasive procedures
• Hip preservation procedures
• Total hip replacement

Our multi-specialty team focuses on personalized treatment plans tailored to your goals.

Knee joint care

We treat the full spectrum of knee conditions, using approaches such as:

• Ligament repair and reconstruction (for conditions such as ACL tears)
• Meniscal and cartilage preservation
• Non-surgical options, including therapy and/or injections
• Advanced knee replacement options, including partial, total, and robotic-assisted procedures

Each plan is developed to maximize function and help you return to the activities you enjoy.

Joint replacement (arthroplasty)

When treatment care isn’t enough, joint replacement may be recommended, using the latest techniques. Hip and knee arthroplasty (joint replacement) can relieve pain and restore mobility. We offer education before and after surgery, to aid in your recovery, and we support patients throughout their entire journey – from evaluation to long-term follow-up.

Highlights include:

• Prostheses and techniques are optimized for durability and pain reduction.
• Same-day joint replacement may be available for qualifying patients.
• Our in-house optimization clinic helps ensure that your health is in peak condition prior to surgery.
• Our recovery programs focus on early movement and complete rehabilitation.

Joint replacement is part of our overall joint care strategy, to help you regain your best possible function.

Your journey with UAB Joint Care

Whether you’re seeking relief from joint pain, exploring treatment options for arthritis, or considering joint replacement surgery, our team is here to guide you every step of the way. We provide:

• A multi-specialty team that collaborates with orthopaedics, imaging, physical therapy, and pain management
• Customized treatment plans that reflect your unique needs
• Support throughout your journey, from evaluation through recovery and beyond

Care Providers

Resources

• UAB Department of Orthopaedic Surgery

Related Specialties

• Hip care
• Hip replacement
• Knee care
• Knee replacement
• Orthopaedic Services
• Sports & Exercise Medicine