Article Category: Highlights

The 5 Dos and Don’ts of Managing Joint Health

Published on February 28, 2025

Last updated 08:19 AM February 28, 2025

Man exercising his upper body by stretching his arm

Maintaining healthy joints is essential for mobility and quality of life. When joint pain arises, whether as the result of an acute injury or natural aging, the discomfort can interfere with daily activities and keep you from living your fullest life.

The good news is that it’s possible to protect your joints with the right preventive strategies. By teaming up with the orthopedic experts at Wellstar, you can overcome joint pain and stay at the top of your game.

Do: Train smart and prioritize recovery.

When it comes to joint health, the way you train matters just as much as how you recover.

“Smart training means warm-ups, cool downs and using ice after activities and heat before activities,” said Wellstar Chief Musculoskeletal Officer Dr. Joseph Burns. It also means understanding your body’s limits—you should avoid pushing too hard, too fast, as this can lead to overuse injuries that compromise long-term joint health.

Additionally, variety of movement is key. “You shouldn’t do one sport or one physical activity all year round,” noted Dr. Burns, who specializes in shoulder surgery and sports medicine. Try to mix up your exercises, incorporating a blend of strength, flexibility and mobility training to build joint resilience. Be mindful of any discomfort, and adjust your routine accordingly.

Finally, it’s important to allow for adequate rest and recovery between intense activities to prevent strain and reduce inflammation.

“There’s a normal soreness after activities,” Dr. Burns said, “but if you don’t give your body the opportunity to fully recover, it gets used to the idea that it’s always in pain, always fighting.”

By training smart and prioritizing recovery, you're not just protecting your joints in the short term—you’re setting the stage for a lifetime of movement and vitality.

Don’t: Ignore joint pain.

It’s important to pay attention to the cues your body gives you. Ignoring pain can lead to further damage. According to Dr. Burns, one of the first steps you can take when joint pain occurs is the R-I-C-E method.

“The acronym R-I-C-E, which is rest, ice, compression and elevation, is a good place to start,” he said. This simple yet effective treatment can greatly reduce pain and swelling, and help you get back to enjoying the things you love.

However, if your pain is debilitating, persistent or accompanied by other symptoms, you should consult a physician. “In general, we tell people that the severity of the pain matters; sharp, intense pain is your body telling you something,” Dr. Burns explained. “Another sign is how you’re sleeping. If pain is waking you up at night, it’s time to look into it.”

Do: Discuss treatment options with your healthcare provider.

At Wellstar, our comprehensive total joint care program addresses a variety of joint concerns with both surgical and non-surgical treatment options. We work closely with you to tailor the best treatment plan for your lifestyle.

“Joint pain comes in all shapes and sizes,” Dr. Burns said. Sometimes R-I-C-E is all it takes to reduce your joint pain and promote healing. Other times, a total joint replacement or minimally invasive procedure may be recommended to help you get back to an active lifestyle, whether it’s playing sports or keeping up with your grandkids.

“My job is to help people feel better,” said Dr. Burns, “and sometimes that requires surgery, sometimes it requires medication, sometimes it requires education, and sometimes it requires a pat on the back and encouragement that people are on the right track and doing the right thing.”

In many cases, physical therapy, lifestyle modifications and minimally invasive procedures can provide significant relief before surgery becomes necessary. Whenever possible, Wellstar utilizes state-of-the-art technology to deliver focused care with fewer complications and shorter recovery time.

One example is a treatment called platelet-rich plasma, or PRP. “It harnesses the body’s own healing ability, which is quite amazing,” explained Dr. Burns. “It involves removing a little bit of blood, extracting certain cells—in this case the platelet cells—concentrating them and then injecting them into the body. It’s a great example of the technological advances that can help people avoid surgery.”

If surgery is recommended by your doctor, ensure you understand the risks, benefits and expected recovery timeline. Don’t hesitate to ask questions or seek a second opinion if something concerns you. A well-informed patient is an empowered patient.

Do: Practice healthy habits.

Taking care of your joints requires a high level of discipline when it comes to health maintenance.

Your daily routine should include “stretching, strength training, proper nutrition, rest, recovery and keeping your mind active and focused,” Dr. Burns recommended. “In combination, this can help significantly reduce not only your risk for injury, but your blood pressure, and stress and anxiety levels.”

Stress can trigger joint pain, making it vital to prioritize your mental health. “The mental resiliency is equally important as the physical work,” Dr. Burns said.

Other preventive care practices, including wearing supportive footwear, focusing on proper form and avoiding overexertion, can help create a solid foundation that supports joint health over time. Neglecting these basics often leads to imbalances and strain that could have been avoided.

“It’s an ongoing, lifelong process of maintaining your health,” said Dr. Burns. “There are no shortcuts.”

Don’t: Navigate joint pain alone.

If you’re dealing with joint pain, don’t be afraid to seek care and guidance. “We can’t do it alone,” said Dr. Burns.

While acute inflammation comes on quickly and can be treated fast and effectively, chronic inflammation “isn’t as easy to fix,” the surgeon said. “Oftentimes it involves a long-term approach that may involve rebalancing muscles, physical therapy or muscle strengthening.” By establishing a trusted team of providers, from orthopedists to rheumatologists to physical therapists, you can feel supported at every step of the process.

“From a physician’s standpoint, it is extremely valuable to know your patient,” Dr. Burns shared. “That’s why a health system like Wellstar, where our patients often see several physicians within the system, can be extremely helpful.”

Achieving optimal joint health requires collaboration among numerous experts. Your doctors, surgeons and specialists may work together to recommend exercises or offer lifestyle adjustments that will protect and strengthen your joints.

Above all, maintain open communication with your care team about your symptoms, goals and any changes you feel. This proactive approach ensures you’re not making decisions alone. By seeking the right help early on, you can prevent further joint pain and get back to enjoying daily activities with confidence and ease.

Find a Wellstar orthopedic specialist near you.

A Few Highlights from the Day:

Community Gardens Revived

Volunteers partnered with Food Well Alliance to rejuvenate gardens in Austell, Douglasville and North Fulton—prepping soil, planting crops and creating vibrant spaces for neighbors to grow fresh produce.

Food Banks Fueled

At Golden Harvest Food Bank in Augusta and Aiken, teams packed backpack meals for children and food boxes for families. In Marietta and Atlanta, volunteers sorted donations and prepped pantries at the Atlanta Community Food Bank.

Shelters Supported

At Covenant House, volunteers assembled 400 sack lunches for youth and organized clothing donations. In Cobb County, they helped Habitat for Humanity paint a home for a local family as part of the Women Build 2025 initiative.

Kindness Kits Created

At MUST Ministries, team members assembled hygiene kits, birthday bundles and heartfelt notes for seniors—adding a personal touch to essential services.

About Wellstar Health System

Wellstar personalizes the patient experience. We call it PeopleCare, and it's only possible thanks to our 33,000 team members who provide expert, compassionate care for every stage of life. PeopleCare also means we serve our communities as a nonprofit health system, providing more than $1 billion annually in charity care and community programs, and operating the largest integrated trauma network in the state of Georgia. We embrace innovation and technology, nurture early-stage companies through our venture firm Catalyst by Wellstar, and train future generations of caregivers with academic institutions including the Medical College of Georgia. Wellstar honors every voice and is one of the Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For. To learn more, visit Wellstar.org.

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CLEAR and Wellstar Health System Modernize the Patient Experience Using CLEAR1’s Digital Check-In

NEW YORK and ATLANTA, Oct. 21, 2025 – CLEAR (NYSE: YOU), the secure identity company, and Wellstar Health System (“Wellstar”), are dramatically improving the patient experience and saving hundreds of staff hours through a partnership that leverages CLEAR’s identity platform, CLEAR1. Findings from a joint case study released today highlight how health systems nationwide can use technology to make the patient experience faster and easier by reimagining one of the most visible pain points in the care journey: Patient Check In.

Despite widespread investment in digital tools, many check-ins still depend on manual lookups, paper forms, and repetitive data entry—creating friction for both patients and staff. Wellstar has been at the forefront of innovation as the first health system to launch CLEAR1 for check-in, which is integrated with Epic Welcome to enable seamless deployment. With this industry-leading solution, patients can quickly and easily check in for their appointments with a quick selfie at a kiosk or on a handheld tablet.

Since the initial launch at Avalon Health Park in May 2024, Wellstar has seen a dramatic and measurable impact on both experience and operational efficiency, with plans to expand to more than 150 locations across its system. The integration is live at Wellstar North Fulton Medical Center, the first hospital in the U.S. to leverage CLEAR1 for patient check-ins, and at five Wellstar outpatient facilities. Wellstar plans to roll out additional use cases with CLEAR1, including patient MyChart account creation and recovery, workforce account recovery, and online scheduling.

“CLEAR’s focus is on making everyday experiences both safer and easier, and our work with Wellstar is helping pave the way for the future of modern patient experiences," said Caryn Seidman Becker, CEO of CLEAR. “We are excited about the growth opportunities ahead and the many ways we can support health systems to improve patient and staff experiences and create a more integrated healthcare future.”

“The results of the study speak for themselves. By leveraging CLEAR1’s technology we introduced a modern, digital check-in experience that saves patients and team members time, reduces administrative costs, and streamlines the check-in process for everyone,” said Dr. Hank Capps, EVP and Chief Information and Digital Officer for Wellstar Health System and President of Catalyst by Wellstar. “Wellstar partnered with CLEAR because we are committed to investing in technologies that elevate the patient experience, alleviate the stress on staff, and reduce friction across every part of the patient journey.”

Key outcomes achieved since launching CLEAR1 for check-in include:

Improved Patient Experience – Digital check-in adoption increased from 2 to 10 percent, with strong engagement among patients 45 and older. 73 percent of patients who used CLEAR1’s digital check-in technology reported that they would use it again.
Operational Efficiency – In just six months, CLEAR1-enabled check-ins freed up more than 1,500 hours of staff time, allowing teams to focus on higher-value tasks such as assisting patients with complex problems.
Reduction in Duplicate Records & Cost Savings – By linking appointments to a verified identity, Wellstar has been able to uncover and resolve duplicate patient records before visits, reducing costly administrative rework and minimizing claim complications. Collectively, these improvements are projected to deliver $2 million in savings for every 25,000 patients verified through CLEAR1.

The case study is available here.

About CLEAR
CLEAR's mission is to strengthen security and create frictionless experiences. With over 33 million Members and a growing network of partners across the world, CLEAR's secure identity platform is transforming the way people live, work, and travel. Whether you are traveling, at the stadium, or on your phone, CLEAR connects you to the things that make you, you—making everyday experiences easier, more secure, and friction-free. CLEAR is committed to privacy done right. Members are always in control of their own information, and we do not sell biometric or sensitive personal data. For more information, visit clearme.com.

About Wellstar Health System
Wellstar personalizes the patient experience. We call it PeopleCare and it's only possible thanks to our 33,000 team members who provide expert compassionate care for every stage of life. PeopleCare also means we serve our communities as a non-profit health system, providing more than $1 billion annually in charity care and community programs, and operating the largest integrated trauma network in the State of Georgia. We embrace innovation and technology, nurture early-stage companies through our venture firm Catalyst by Wellstar, and train future generations of caregivers with academic institutions including the Medical College of Georgia. Wellstar honors every voice and is one of the Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For. To learn more, visit Wellstar.org.

Keep reading

The 5 Dos and Don’ts of Managing Joint Health

Do: Train smart and prioritize recovery.

Don’t: Ignore joint pain.

Do: Discuss treatment options with your healthcare provider.

Do: Practice healthy habits.

Don’t: Navigate joint pain alone.

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The 5 Dos and Don’ts of Managing Joint Health

Do: Train smart and prioritize recovery.

Don’t: Ignore joint pain.

Do: Discuss treatment options with your healthcare provider.

Do: Practice healthy habits.

Don’t: Navigate joint pain alone.

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