Manuel F. Yvars, MD

"It takes a team approach"

"The patient should be a willing partner," says Manuel Yvars, MD. "It's the patient's own body; his or her own muscles and bones, and the doctor shouldn't be expected to come to them with all the answers. It's not just a matter of operating and hoping they will be better. It takes a team approach, with the patient and I and even the family working together to get them well."

As a general orthopaedist, Dr. Yvars most often treats problems of the upper and lower extremities, like hip, knee, ankle, and shoulder pains. "I see lots of sport injuries, too" he explains, "but surgery is not my first instinct. Even day surgery has its risks as well as possible benefits, and no outcome is guaranteed." He looks first for therapeutic alternatives like medications, injections and physical therapy before referring people for surgery.

Dr. Yvars earned his medical degree at the College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University. He completed his orthopaedic residency at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania after serving as a captain in the Medical Corps of the U.S. Air Force. Having practiced medicine in Berkshire County for thirty-five years, he's seen lots of changes.

"There are surgical alternatives that weren't available even a few years ago. The less invasive surgeries and the total joint replacements make it possible for people to get better quicker and go about their business longer." He also emphasizes the importance of self-care. "I say to people, ‘Stay fit, stay as active as possible - walking, going to the gym, doing yoga. Keeping your musculoskeletal system in optimal working order will help avoid problems later. For older people especially, strength training becomes very important. We tend to become sedentary, but using weights or doing some resistance exercise is the number one thing people should do to stay younger and functional longer. Even if you develop a problem, conditioning is still important."

Dr. Yvars and his wife have two grown children and two grandchildren. They reside in Pittsfield, where he trains Australian Shepherds for agility trials, flat-water paddles his canoe in the summer, and skis in the winter.