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18/08/2026

Beyond the injury: getting back to what matters to you

For Dr. Juan Sainz de Aja, a Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation specialist at Hospital MiKS, recovery means much more than improving joint movement or reducing pain. His approach is based on an idea that aligns with the MiKS model of care: putting the person at the center and working collaboratively to help each patient regain independence and return to the activities that give meaning to everyday life.

What does it really mean to recover from an injury? It is not simply about becoming pain-free, restoring movement, or regaining strength. Behind every injury is a person who may have had to stop playing sports, working as usual, walking without fear, or managing everyday activities independently.

That is why the goal of recovery is not simply to treat an injured structure, but to help each patient progressively return to their activities, regain the ability to do what matters to them, and restore their independence.

One injury, different needs

Two people may have what appears to be a similar injury and yet require very different treatment approaches. Their circumstances, activity levels, and, above all, their goals are not the same.

A marathon runner does not have the same needs as someone whose goal is simply to climb the stairs at home without assistance. Likewise, someone hoping to return to competition requires a different approach from someone whose priority is to regain the ability to work without pain.

Age, physical condition, occupation, lifestyle, pain, and expectations all form part of the assessment. That is why a diagnosis is only the starting point.

“Injuries may look the same on an MRI, but people never are.”

Beyond imaging

Imaging provides essential information about muscles, tendons, and joints, but it cannot, on its own, explain how a person is experiencing their injury.

The clinical assessment must complete that picture: What has the patient stopped doing? What concerns them? What do they hope to achieve? What factors could make recovery more difficult?

“Imaging shows structures; the consultation reveals limitations, expectations, fears, and habits,” says Dr. Sainz de Aja.

This approach makes it possible to develop a treatment plan tailored to each person’s actual needs and to establish a specific functional goal from the outset.

Tools to support recovery

Ultrasound is one of the tools that can improve the accuracy of this assessment. In addition to complementing the physical examination, it can help identify the source of certain types of pain and guide treatment decisions.

It can also be used to perform ultrasound-guided injections with greater precision when indicated. But technology does not replace clinical judgment: it should support a comprehensive assessment and an individualized treatment plan.

The same applies to other therapeutic tools, including exercise, physical therapy, rehabilitation and return-to-activity programs, injections, and selected applications of regenerative medicine. The goal is not to use more techniques, but to use the right ones for each patient at the right time.

Dr. Sainz de Aja in his consultation room at Hospital MiKS

A shared process

Recovery from a musculoskeletal injury may require the involvement of different healthcare professionals. Orthopedic surgery, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, physical therapy, and pain medicine each contribute a different perspective that can complement the others throughout the process.

An orthopedic surgeon may assess whether surgical treatment is necessary; a rehabilitation physician focuses on functional recovery; a physical therapist supports much of the recovery process; and a pain specialist becomes involved when pain requires a specific approach.

The goal is not for patients to navigate separate and disconnected pathways, but for different professionals to share information and work toward the same needs and goals. When they do, patients receive a more coherent treatment plan, without conflicting messages and with continuity of care that can make a meaningful difference to outcomes.

As Dr. Sainz de Aja explains, “At a hospital like ours, patients don’t come looking for a specific specialty; they come looking for a solution.”

Coordination becomes especially important when recovery involves different stages and professionals. Each brings their own expertise, while the patient remains at the center of the process.

Getting back to what matters

An injury can create uncertainty. Knowing what is happening, how long recovery might take, and when it may be possible to return to normal activities are also important concerns for patients.

That is why information and support are important parts of treatment. The first consultation does not necessarily have to end with an immediate solution, but it should help the patient understand what is happening and what the next steps will be.

“You probably won’t leave the first consultation with a magic solution, but you will have a clear plan.”

Because the ultimate goal is not a joint, a tendon, or a diagnostic image. It is the person’s life.

Walking confidently again. Returning to sport. Going back to work. Sleeping without pain. Regaining independence.

These are different goals, but they all reflect the same idea: restoring the ability to do what gives meaning to everyday life.

And that is the true goal of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.