SIOUX CITY (KTIV) -- Incisions. It's something you commonly think of when it comes to doctors.

But, many look to put down the scalpel and take an alternative approach.

"Most of the patients that come to my clinic, don't end up getting a surgery," CNOS Orthopedic Sports Surgeon Dr. Ben Bissell said.

Dr. Ben Bissell is an Orthopedic Sports Surgeon with CNOS. He said while there are many cases where surgery is the best option for patients.

"Acute ACL tear with meniscus tears and a locked knee in a young athlete, that particular issue just need surgery," Dr. Bissell said.

He said they always try to look for alternatives. To them, the most important thing is getting the correct diagnosis.

"The most important thing is to do a careful history and physical exam and X-rays and/or MRI if needed because every diagnosis has different treatment options," Dr. Bissell said. "It's important that we don't use a one size fits all approach."

Options like bracing, medications, physical therapy, platelet-rich plasma injections, or dry needling.

"I find kind of the area of dysfunction or sometimes people call it a knot," CNOS Physical Therapist Alex Tritz said. "I put the needle right into that area and then I piston it around to try and find a twitch. Then I use electric stimulation a lot with my needling. So I usually hook up to electric stimulation and I make the muscle twitch."

Tritz said many of the people she sees have chronic or acute pain. Many coming to her with sports-related injuries.

"Usually it's kind of to prevent surgery or a lot of times it's a last-ditch effort," Tritz said. "People that have had a lot of or have even had previous surgeries and they didn't get relief, this is kind of their last-ditch effort and I usually get pretty good results."

"I think in general the less invasive, more conservative approach is always best to try first," Bissell said. "Because it's less disruptive to their lives. It's less expensive and it's less risky."

Dr. Bissell said he always tells patients that "Plan A" is to try and avoid surgery and while 70 to 90 percent of patients he initially sees, don't need surgery, that can change.

He said some may need it after a year or two if the other options haven't worked.

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HEALTHBEAT 4: Alternatives to surgery - KTIV