That’s right! It’s pretty much what I tell most of my patients. “What makes your orthopedic surgeon money, is probably something you shouldn’t be doing.” Go ahead. Try to name an orthopedic condition–other than inheritable diseases or bad luck–that isn’t related to something we do to ourselves. Something preventable.

Sports medicine injuries… Completely preventable. Don’t participate in sports, and you probably won’t tear your ACL. I know there are a few exceptions. Bear with me here…

Broken bones… Preventable unless it’s due to a fracture through a bone tumor. Sure, some situations are barely preventable. A couple of weeks ago, I slipped on an acorn and busted my butt. Acorn’s fault? No… in my opinion… my fault. I know this time of year my driveway’s covered with acorns. I need to be mindful.

Got bucked off a horse and broke my wrist. Horse’s fault? Nope. Mine for buying that cold-backed sumbitch. Take it one step further. My fault for even riding horses!

Sometimes you can’t prevent a car accident. But even sometimes when we’re not at fault, a tiny modicum of defensive driving might have prevented the accident.

So here’s my New Year’s Resolution point: Along with not going hog wild on some starvation diet that won’t work, don’t go hog wild on accelerated-paced exercise programs. I’m gonna pay my taxes and make my car payments next year on the backs of those of you who ran too much, too quickly, and got a stress fracture, and those who joined some “Insanity” exercise program and tore their rotator cuffs, or those who started an aggressive Zumba class and tore their meniscus.

Go easy on yourselves. No hog-wild exercise program. Love your body and take care of it this year. Make your local orthopod earn their living on someone else’s deductible.