Dr. Christopher Ahmad, the Yankees team physician, warns in a Medium post that the resumption of baseball could bring a new wave of Tommy John procedures.
Essentially, the point is that many typical concerns during a pitching ramp-up will end up being amplified when the game re-starts. Ahmad writes that “the coronavirus pandemic may greatly compound and exaggerate the risk factors associated with the spring Tommy John surgery spike.”
The warning isn’t exclusively or even primarily aimed at MLB or high-end minor-league hurlers, whose training regimens remain closely monitored by teams. Amateur players and lesser-regarded pros are perhaps at greater risk of falling into the traps that Ahmad identifies.
But the potential concerns could ensnare any pitcher. And the broader TJS epidemic, as Ahmad labels it, is of concern to the game even when it involves lower-level players.
Ahmad, who is one of the top TJ specialists in the world, delivers three primary points in the post. Pitchers should build up conditioning now, rather than waiting for what might be a rushed resumption of play. Any injury or soreness in the body should be taken seriously, due to the potential for compensation to lead to strain on the elbow. And any pain or other issues in or around the elbow ought to be treated seriously, even if it means a disappointing halt to play just after it finally re-started.
The post is worth reading for anyone involved on the pitching side of the sport at any level. It’s also a good reminder of the sort of considerations MLB teams have surely been weighing as they guide and monitor their players and think about how to get them ready for an entirely unique 2020 season.
Uh oh
Spaghetti o
Expanded rosters will help that, starters will be on strict pitch counts and inning limits to start the year.
There isn’t any proof that pitch limits help prevent TJ surgery. If you ask some newer school folk (think Trevor Bauer), there’s actually some good thinking to getting pitchers (specifically starters) more accustomed to pitching longer and throwing harder. Pitch counts and stuff like that might help long term wear and tear on shoulders, but that’s little to do with this article.
The Jays have a couple of at-risk pitchers. They won’t have restrictions, but they will be monitoring their metrics like velocity, spin rate, mechanics, and so on to determine how to proceed.
Certain body types limit injury. Think Nolan Ryan. But most throwers are hurt by excessive pitch counts. In the old days it was mostly throwers with bad technique but now we are seeing athletes with great technique who are just wearing out what are supposed to be stabilizing ligaments. Pitch counts (which includes any hard throws with dad, trainers, coaches and practice/games) matter! Read some of Jimmy Andrews’s studies if you need verification.
Maybe we should all just hide under our pillows, outside sounds too dangerous.
In the unforgettable words of Spongebob…’I know a place where I can never be harmed…indoors, inDOORS, i-IN-DOORS!!!’
Exactly. Who needs sports when we can have a tissue, penny and potato chip for entertainment.
TAKE IT AWAY, PENNY!
you mean Penny!
i expect a rash of covid19 cases again
He may be right, but most pitchers are trying to maintain their training during the shutdown. Plus, with a shorter 2nd spring training before the season starts the league will likely have expanded rosters and the pitchers on stricter pitch counts. So I guess we’ll see. Or more accurately I hope we’ll see.
One problem is lack of access to gyms where you can do your weight work. Running is not a problem but strength work is possibly falling off the table. Could definitely cause issues.
Weight work is not how you’re going to strengthen and avoid tj. Within the rehab of it is LIGHT weight work, but that is more so to strengthen the muscles around the ligament. My point is, being able to go to the gym and having access to heavier weights than your average person would have at home, is not going to be the cause of a tjs spike.
Tommy john surgeries shoulda been worried about 20 years ago. I would think the extended rest and hopefully lighter workouts last 2 months would be a good thing. Dont think anybody is expecting them go from dead stop to completely ramped up in a week.
I imagine most pros have kept their routine as if the season is going on.
Did he just call me a rash? He’s so next.
If only all doctors took any kind of soreness seriously
well the lack of baseball hasnt seemed to stop TJ announcements so…
I’m totally reading the article linked since I have had some UCL issues recently. Resting for a while, I’ve done too much.
With regards to Tommy John surgery prevention; you cant full prevent it. However, the stronger your core is (belly button to knees front and back), the more pressure it takes off your arm. That is the best way to lower the chances.
Thanks, Doc!
Anytime!
Verlander has core surgery and after he started a whole new workout regimen that focused almost entirely on his posterior chain and core. Look at the results.
I’m not really sure how pitching fewer innings will lead to more TJ surgeries.
It’s not the less innings, it’s the sudden ramp up after 9 months of no baseball. Guys should be training, but it will be obvious the ones who didn’t. The players needed this huge break, but you still need to train.
Look, all pitchers experience soreness.They may couch it in expressions such as “tightness” or in inability to ‘get loose’, but make no mistake – pitchers experiencing pain is quite the norm and, in fact, the ability to not only pitch through that pain but to pitch effectively, is often what separates starting hurlers. Unfortunately it can be difficult to differentiate normal soreness from real injury.
I had Tommy John surgery on my ankle it’s amazing what technology does today
This doesn’t make any sense lmfao
I believe that rash of guys ending up having to have TJ surgery each spring comes from guys that opted for rest and rehab from injuries that were suffered the previous season. The rehab route did not help the injury to heal enough so the surgery option must be taken. If there is no injury issues present, there should be no reason why ramping back up would cause more. Injuries unless there are issues with a pitcher’s arm to begin with. Thes guys have exercise routines to keep their arms loose and will need a month to rebuild inning strength again. They already have that planned in.
Good post Dr, Ahmad, and good job Jeff Todd for passing on this information. Parents, keep an eye on your pitcher kids, make sure they’re not over-throwing. Surgery is not a joke. Frankly, TJ surgery is more risky for your son than if he got Covid.
Remove the elbow pads and you’ll see no TJ’s this year!!!
Why won’t these idiots learn their lesson!!!!
Are you hearing voices in your head?
Ah the Aj Preller P.P. licker is here!
Not sure a Yankees team physician knows a lot about successfully preventing injuries:)