Orthopedic Partners

02/17/2026

Not ready for joint replacement but tired of living with arthritis pain?

PRP (Platelet-Rich Plasma) therapy uses concentrated growth factors from your own blood to support tissue repair inside the joint.

In our latest YouTube video, Dr. Gauthier walks through a real-time ultrasound-guided PRP injection for severe arthritis.

It’s not an overnight fix, but for some patients, it’s a meaningful next step.

Full video on YouTube.

02/10/2026

If you’ve been putting off spine care because surgery sounds intimidating, it may help to know how much things have changed.

As spine surgeon Dr Wagner explains, today’s spine procedures often use robotic assistance and high-resolution imaging to improve accuracy and reduce unnecessary tissue disruption.

For many patients, this can support a more efficient, faster healing process.

02/03/2026

It’s often the small moments - a thoughtful explanation, an unrushed visit, a provider who actually listens - that leave the biggest impression.

We’re proud to have clinicians like Lisa Shea, PA-C, who show up with skill, clarity, and care at every visit.

Thank you for sharing your experience, Netty 🙏

01/29/2026

It’s arts and crafts (and cookie time) in the rehab department 🖐️

Our latest YouTube video shows the full process of custom thumb bracing, from remodeling and fitting to the hands-on craftsmanship that makes occupational therapy so unique.

Watch Leigh walk through how a brace is made to support an active patient — and why personalized care matters.

🎥 Watch the full video on YouTube: https://youtu.be/WYsO9cqoP1o

01/22/2026

Flat feet aren’t just a problem for runners. If you have a weak arch, you can feel it during long days on your feet, walks, workouts, or even just standing still.

Strengthening your anterior and posterior tibialis, as well as your flexor digitorum longus, helps support the arch, improve foot control, and reduce unnecessary strain as you move.

Here are 5 simple exercises you can do from your living room - or wherever you are - to start building foot strength:

• Heel raises (slow up, slow down) to strengthen the posterior tibialis
• Heel walking to activate the anterior tibialis
• Toe swaps (lift the big toe while keeping the other toes down, then switch) to improve foot control and arch activation
• Single-leg balance to build foot, ankle, and lower-leg stability
• Towel scrunches or marble pick-ups to strengthen the small intrinsic muscles that support the arch

Pick one to try today and save this post to come back for another tomorrow.

01/15/2026

Travel can be tough on your joints, but movement is one of the most effective tools we have to stay well.⁠
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One of our leading joint replacement surgeons, Dr. Justin Thoms, is joining his wife, Kate, for a special workshop at Niantic Yoga focused on maintaining mobility while traveling.⁠
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From long flights to busy schedules, joint stiffness and discomfort are common, especially before or after joint replacement. This workshop blends yoga, mobility work, and practical strategies you can use anywhere to support joint health and movement confidence.⁠
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Whether you’re planning a winter getaway or spending long hours at a desk, this session offers tools you can carry with you - and a chance to work directly with two experienced movement professionals.⁠
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This workshop is appropriate for all levels.

Save the date, and share with someone who could use a little more ease in their movement.⁠
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01/08/2026

When it comes to foot and ankle care, understanding who you’re seeing matters.

Foot and ankle pain doesn’t exist in isolation. Foot pain can affect your knees, hips, and how you move every day.

Orthopedic foot & ankle surgeons are trained as physicians and surgeons first, then specialize, allowing them to treat the foot and ankle as part of the entire movement system.

That perspective helps guide both surgical and non-surgical care with long-term outcomes in mind.

Dr. Vafek is one of two foot and ankle surgeons at Orthopedic Partners, offering care rooted in experience, precision, and a full-body approach.

01/07/2026

One of 2025’s bright spots for our clinic was welcoming Tiara Bianco, PA-C, to the Orthopedic Partners care team.

As well as assisting during surgery, Tiara works closely with our surgeons in the hospital, helping care for patients before and after orthopedic surgery - answering questions, managing recovery, and supporting patients through some of their most important healing moments.

Her bright energy and attention to detail make a real difference for patients and families.

We’re grateful to have you on our team, Tiara!

12/31/2025

Starting the New Year on the right foot doesn’t mean doing more. It means doing what supports your long-term health.

Small steps, consistent care, and a clear plan can go a long way toward feeling better and moving with confidence in the year ahead.

We’re grateful for our patients, our team, and our community - and proud to support every step forward.

12/25/2025

From our Orthopedic Partners family to yours, wishing you a Merry Christmas and a season filled with health, rest, and time with the people who matter most.

12/23/2025

In case you missed Channel 8’s story yesterday, take a listen to Dr. Ammar Anbari’s segment with Lisa Carberg and his recent patient, Laura.

If, like Laura, you or someone you know has shoulder pain that is getting in the way of life's essential daily tasks (like warming up a cup of coffee), share this highlight with them.

Advancements in imaging and robotic guidance are making shoulder surgery more precise and outcomes more consistent than ever before.

We are very proud to have Dr. Anbari bringing this level of care to our patients here in Connecticut.

In the past, robotic-assisted surgery was used to do hip and knee replacements, but now technology has made it available for shoulder replacements.

12/18/2025

This moment says a lot.

📐 Nearly 100 degrees of motion
👏 “Great job doing your homework.”

After knee replacement, progress doesn’t come from forcing movement - it comes from doing the right work, the right way, again and again.

Kneecap mobility might seem small, but it plays a big role in how comfortably your knee bends and straightens.

New year goals don’t need to be extreme.
They need to be consistent.

And this is what consistency looks like.