Dr. Vijay Vad stands out as a double board-certified physician in physical medicine and rehabilitation (physiatry) and sports medicine, practicing at the renowned Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS). His patient-centered approach focuses on minimally-invasive integrative treatments for a range of conditions, including sports injuries, knee arthritis, and back pain. Dr. Vad is not only a dedicated clinician but also a prolific author and researcher, committed to developing innovative solutions for musculoskeletal health.
One of Dr. Vijay Vad’s notable contributions is the development of capsular distention, a simple 15-minute outpatient procedure designed to restore motion and alleviate pain associated with frozen shoulder. This innovative technique exemplifies his commitment to providing effective, less invasive treatment options for his patients.
Beyond his practice at HSS, Doctor Vijay Vad has an extensive background in sports medicine, having served as a physician for the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) professional men’s tennis circuit, the PGA Tour’s Westchester Classic, and the MSG Tennis Showdown. This experience working with elite athletes underscores his expertise in diagnosing and treating sports-related injuries.
Dr. Vad is a nationally recognized author, having penned several best-selling books on musculoskeletal health. His published works include Back Rx, Arthritis Rx, Golf Rx, and The New Rules of Running, all published by Penguin Random House. Notably, his book Back Rx was honored as the Wall Street Journal’s favorite health book of the year in 2005. His expertise has also extended to television, as he authored and hosted two PBS national television specials: “Stop Back Pain” (premiered June 2011) and “Active with Arthritis” (premiered June 2013), further disseminating his knowledge to a wider audience.
Currently, Doctor Vijay Vad’s research is dedicated to creating accessible solutions for maintaining an active lifestyle. His integrative treatment philosophy empowers patients to actively participate in their healing process. He is the creator of the Back Rx exercise app, developed based on clinical trials conducted with Cornell Tech. This app has demonstrated significant benefits in reducing back pain and, importantly, decreasing reliance on narcotics and medical procedures.
As a forward-thinking researcher, Dr. Vijay Vad champions advanced treatments like carboplasty (stem-cell therapies). In collaboration with international colleagues, he has pioneered the use of tibial bone marrow-derived stem cells to treat knee arthritis, aiming to minimize the need for joint replacements. His promising findings in this area were presented at the Orthopedic Research Society meeting in 2018.
Furthermore, Doctor Vijay Vad, along with his scientific team in Boston, has developed medical food capsules designed for the dietary management of chronic diseases. These formulations aim to reduce dependence on anti-inflammatory medications and narcotics. One such product is microactive plus curcumin, a highly absorbable form of curcumin, formulated to manage arthritis and back pain.
Dr. Vijay Vad’s commitment extends beyond medicine through the Vad Foundation, which he founded to support the education of disadvantaged girls globally and to advance medical research in back pain and arthritis.
Special Expertise:
Minimally-invasive treatments, biologics including stem cells and PRP for back pain, knee arthritis, frozen shoulder, and tendinitis.
