What does a professional violinist know about orthopedic surgery?
In the case of Dr. Will Kang, quite a lot.
Before becoming a board-certified orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Kang trained seriously as a classical violinist, earned a master’s degree in violin performance from the Cleveland Institute of Music, and worked as a professional musician. He practiced for hours every day and expected music to be his lifelong career.
Then a repetitive-stress shoulder injury changed his path.
In this episode of The Joint Replacement Podcast, Dr. Kang joins Dr. Matthew Sloan to talk about the unusual journey from the concert stage to the operating room, what elite musicians and surgeons have in common, and how his own experience as a patient shaped the way he now thinks about orthopedic care. Pasted text
From the concert hall to medicine
Dr. Kang began violin at a young age and eventually committed fully to music. By high school, practicing four hours per day was routine. He later studied violin performance at the Cleveland Institute of Music and worked professionally as a musician.
At his busiest, he describes playing or rehearsing for as much as 10 to 12 hours per day.
Eventually, that workload caught up with him.
He developed significant shoulder pain and became unable to lift his arm normally. After stepping back, rehabilitating the shoulder, and eventually returning to playing, he began thinking seriously about a second career. Medicine was familiar territory because multiple members of his family were physicians, and he ultimately made the transition. Pasted text
Is becoming a professional violinist harder than becoming a surgeon?
One of the most provocative moments in the episode comes when Dr. Kang compares the two careers.
His answer?
Becoming a professional violinist may be harder.
His argument is not that medicine is easy. Rather, he describes the extraordinary level of technical precision required to earn a living as a classical musician, the years of daily practice, and the very small margin for error during auditions.
He also notes that high-level music requires sustained concentration for hours at a time, something he believes translates surprisingly well to surgery. Pasted text
Musicians are athletes too
Professional musicians may not be thought of as athletes, but Dr. Kang argues that the physical demands can be remarkably similar.
Musicians frequently perform repetitive movements for many hours each day, often without formal training in strength, mobility, ergonomics, or injury prevention.
Common problems can include tendonitis, overuse syndromes, shoulder pain, elbow pain, and other repetitive-stress injuries.
For musicians, these seemingly “minor” injuries can be career-threatening.
Telling a professional violinist to simply stop playing may be no more realistic than telling a professional athlete to stop competing. Pasted text
Do most people who see an orthopedic surgeon need surgery?
No.
Dr. Kang says one of the central questions he asks is simple:
Does surgery actually provide an advantage?
The answer depends on the diagnosis, the patient’s goals, the expected recovery, and whether the patient has the resources and ability to successfully rehabilitate afterward.
In his own broad community orthopedic practice, he estimates that only a small percentage of patients he evaluates ultimately need surgery.
That is an important reminder for patients: seeing an orthopedic surgeon does not automatically mean an operation is coming. Pasted text
When should you see an orthopedic specialist?
Dr. Kang generally favors earlier evaluation rather than waiting for months while a problem worsens.
Some injuries, such as tendon ruptures or fractures, may require prompt treatment. But even for less urgent problems, an early evaluation can help patients avoid making the wrong choices during recovery.
For example, completely immobilizing an ankle sprain for a month may create a different set of problems.
His practical advice is that persistent pain, worsening symptoms, or a problem that is not improving should prompt an evaluation rather than simply waiting indefinitely. Pasted text
Do you really need an MRI?
Patients often come to an orthopedic office expecting an MRI.
But Dr. Kang emphasizes something orthopedic surgeons are taught early in training: a good history and physical examination often provide most of the diagnosis.
Certain situations absolutely deserve early MRI imaging, including suspected tendon rupture, occult fracture, or significant ligament injury.
But many common orthopedic problems do not require an immediate MRI because the result may not change treatment.
In those situations, physical therapy, activity modification, medication, or other conservative treatments may be appropriate before advanced imaging. Pasted text
Your MRI probably shows something abnormal
One of the most important patient lessons in this episode is that an abnormal MRI does not automatically explain pain.
As people age, imaging frequently shows changes in the spine, meniscus, labrum, rotator cuff, and cartilage.
Some of those findings may simply represent aging rather than disease that needs to be “fixed.”
Dr. Kang even suggests that terminology such as “meniscus tear” can sometimes alarm patients unnecessarily. In many degenerative situations, it may be more accurate to think of the meniscus as gradually wearing down rather than suddenly tearing.
Most importantly, pain is complex.
A labral tear does not automatically equal hip pain.
A meniscus tear does not automatically equal knee pain.
A rotator cuff abnormality does not automatically mean shoulder surgery is necessary. Pasted text
Which orthopedic surgeries may be performed too often?
Dr. Kang points to several areas where surgery should be considered carefully.
One is arthroscopic surgery for degenerative meniscus disease.
For many patients with arthritis and degenerative meniscus changes, arthroscopy may provide limited long-term benefit.
He also raises concerns about nonspecific “cleanup” procedures when the diagnosis is unclear and about surgery for isolated back pain when there is no clear surgical target.
His broader philosophy is straightforward:
If you are not sure what is causing the pain, surgery may be the wrong next step. Pasted text
Cortisone, PRP, gel injections, and regenerative medicine
The episode also explores some of the most common nonsurgical treatments patients ask about.
Dr. Kang uses corticosteroid injections but is thoughtful about repeated steroid exposure, especially in younger patients.
He discusses ketorolac injections as another option and says PRP appears to be a relatively safe treatment that may provide benefit for some patients, although availability and cost can be limiting.
He is less enthusiastic about viscosupplementation, or “gel” injections, because patient responses can be inconsistent.
Both surgeons also discuss stem-cell treatments and other expensive regenerative therapies. Their concern is not necessarily that every treatment is dangerous, but that patients may be sold unrealistic promises, including claims that injections can regenerate cartilage or eliminate the future need for joint replacement. Pasted text
What is one of the best things you can do for your joints?
Keep moving.
Dr. Kang describes skeletal muscle as something close to a “fountain of youth.”
In his practice, he frequently sees active older adults with significant arthritis on imaging who remain highly functional and have surprisingly little pain.
His message is simple:
Exercise.
Strength training.
Walk.
Swim.
Ride a bike.
Practice yoga.
Build and maintain muscle before you desperately need it.
For people in their 40s and 50s especially, he encourages developing a consistent exercise routine now rather than waiting until mobility has already declined. Pasted text
Three questions to ask before orthopedic surgery
At the end of the episode, Dr. Kang offers several questions patients should consider asking before agreeing to surgery.
First, ask about the most common complication.
A trustworthy surgeon should be able to talk openly about what can go wrong.
Second, ask what you need to prepare at home.
Recovery involves much more than what happens in the operating room.
Finally, ask a simple question:
“What would you recommend if I were your family member?”
It does not guarantee the right answer, but it can help turn a technical conversation into a more personal discussion about risks, benefits, and alternatives. Pasted text
The bigger lesson
Dr. Kang’s story is unusual, but the lesson is broadly applicable.
Whether someone is trying to play violin at a professional level, return to sports, walk without pain, or simply stay independent, orthopedic treatment should be built around the patient’s actual goals.
Not every abnormal MRI needs treatment.
Not every injury needs surgery.
Not every person with arthritis needs a joint replacement.
And sometimes the most important thing a surgeon can tell a patient is that operating is not the right answer.
Watch or listen to the full episode of The Joint Replacement Podcast with Dr. Will Kang for the complete discussion on music, injuries, imaging, injections, surgery, and maintaining healthy joints as we age.