JointSpanTM: The Missing Link in the Health Span Conversation
Dr. Nancy Yen Shipley
Board-Certified Orthopaedic Surgeon
Founder, Form & Function Orthopaedics
When we talk about health span-the length of time we live in good health-we often focus on the usual suspects: cardiovascular fitness, metabolic health, brain function. But there’s one system that gets overlooked, even though it determines how we move, how we live, and how we show up in the world every day.
It’s time to talk about JointSpanTM.
What Is JointSpanTM?
JointSpanTM is the length of time your joints remain strong, stable, mobile, and pain-free-so you can keep doing the things you love at the level you want. It’s the orthopedic equivalent of health span, and without it, the rest doesn’t matter much. What good is a sharp mind and a strong heart if your knees, hips, shoulders, or spine are holding you back?
At Form and Function Orthopaedics, we believe JointSpanTM is a vital, missing piece in the health optimization puzzle-especially for active adults in midlife and beyond who aren’t ready to slow down and don’t want to be told “it’s just aging.”
The Truth About Aging Joints
As we age, changes in hormones (especially estrogen and testosterone), decreases in collagen, and years of accumulated mechanical wear all start to impact our musculoskeletal system. You may notice:
- Slower recovery after workouts
- “Twinges” becoming more frequent
- A nagging shoulder that keeps you up at night
- Hips or knees that start negotiating your hikes, workouts, or even your sleep
Often, imaging doesn’t show anything dramatic-yet. But this is where proactive care matters most. JointSpanTM isn’t about waiting for something to tear or break. It’s about preserving performance, protecting what’s still working, and addressing dysfunction before it becomes disease.
Building JointSpanTM: Our Approach
At our clinic, we treat joints as the canary in the coal mine-early indicators of wear, stress, inflammation, or imbalance in the system. We bring together orthopedic precision and regenerative innovation to extend your JointSpanTM using:
- Targeted diagnostics that go beyond the MRI to understand why you’re hurting
- Regenerative therapies like platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and microfragmented adipose tissue (mFAT) to support healing at the cellular level
- Hormone-aware joint care, especially for women in perimenopause and menopause whose joint pain is often dismissed or misunderstood
- High-performance recovery strategies that blend physical therapy, laser treatments, and strength-focused rehab
- Longevity protocols that prioritize bone density, muscle preservation, and joint integrity-because you can’t separate the parts from the whole
We don’t chase pain; we partner with you to protect and expand your capacity. Because you don’t just want to be alive-you want to be able.
The New Orthopedics: From Reactive to Proactive
We’re shifting the conversation in orthopedics from “How do I fix this?” to “How do I keep this going strong for decades?” That’s the heart of JointSpanTM.
Whether you’re an athlete in your 50s, a weekend warrior in your 60s, or a mountain hiker in your 70s, your joints are the scaffolding of your freedom.
Don’t let pain write your story. Let’s rewrite what’s possible-together.
Ready to future-proof your joints?
Book a consultation with our team at Form and Function Orthopaedics and start building your JointSpanTM today.
