Did you know that baseball is known as America’s National Pastime? Baseball is a popular sport to play and to sit and watch a game on tv. It’s questionable how often they get injured when watching these athletes play day in and day out. It is easy to get hurt in baseball; If that happens, you must seek medical attention. If you require an elbow surgeon HSS, Dr. David Altchek, MD, can give you the treatment you need. Dr. Altchek is a talented orthopedic and sports medicine surgeon. He has years of experience in medical services.

Common Injuries in Baseball

Shoulder and elbow injuries– In baseball, throwing is one of the main components of the game. When constantly implementing the motion of throwing, it impacts the elbow. A pitcher’s shoulder can be affected by the overuse of ligaments, the growth plate, the skeleton, and tendons. In teenagers, this can affect them deeper as it can impact the development of the shoulder.

Knee Injuries– For catchers, they have to stay squatting on their knees for their position. They also have to move from side to side to catch the ball. The overuse of this stance can cause an injury to the knees.

Achilles Tendons Injuries– Baseball is a high-stress activity. Players forcefully push off their feet to run and make sudden movements. The Achilles Tendon can be affected by these activities.

Concussions– A player can easily get hit in the head with a ball or bat during a game. They can also induce a Concussion by diving headfirst back into a base if not done correctly. 

Heat Injuries– The baseball season runs from the spring through the summer. During the hotter days, baseball players can risk heat stroke, dehydration, or cramping.

Ways to Prevent Injuries

Baseball injuries can be serious, but they can also be prevented before they happen. There are several things to make sure to do when preparing to play baseball:

• Warm-up You must do warm-ups to get your body moving to loosen up your muscles and joints. 
• Stretch– Stretching will help increase your flexibility.
• Wear all equipment– Make sure to wear all equipment and that it fits correctly.
• Wear Protection– Make sure to wear batting helmets and face masks. For pitchers, it’s very important to have their heart protectors on as well.
• Pitchers need rest– Pitchers need to be subbed in and out every few innings to ensure no overuse of the elbow or shoulder. 
• Have the right gloves– It’s crucial to have the right size glove to catch the ball correctly. Also, remember to wear batting gloves to prevent blisters on the hands while up at bat.
• Have the correct shoes– Make sure to have the accurate fitting cleats that will sustain you throughout playing. It’s important to have metal cleats that will grip the ground sternly.
• Inspect the field– Inspect the field for holes or hazardous debris that can impact the players. It’s also significant to broom the field before games or practices.
• Fuel your body– Drink plenty of water (about 8 ounces) before, during, and after working out. Make sure to eat enough food to give the right energy to maintain exercising.

Why Should You Choose Dr. Altchek?

Baseball is a great sport that can teach valuable lessons along with getting physical activity. Sometimes we may play too hard and get hurt. It’s important to know what doctor is the best to use for this situation. Dr. Altchek is a second-generation orthopedic physician and Co-Chief Emeritus at the Hospital for Special Surgery. He is one of the lead consultants to the NBA and is a top doctor for many baseball professionals. If you are looking for an elbow surgeon HSS, Dr. David Altchek, MD, specializes in several services to aid patients:

• Arthroscopy of the shoulder, knee, and elbow.
• UCL Reconstruction- Docking Procedure
• ACL Reconstruction
• Total Shoulder Replacement
• Total Knee Replacement
• Shoulder instability treatment

Schedule An Appointment with Dr. Altchek

Over 65 Million individuals around the world play baseball. Players should ensure that they are playing correctly and wearing the correct protection to keep them safe from injuries. These injuries can be small and treatable, while others are far more serious and can affect you later in life. Dr. Altchek is one of the best-known doctors in New York. He will take time to evaluate your needs and make an adjustment for you to get you back on the field! 

Dr. Altchek is committed to providing top-notch care to anyone who needs his services. If you get injured while playing baseball and require an elbow surgeon HSS, contact Dr. David Altchek, MD, and get the help you need!

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What is UCL Reconstruction Surgery?

UCL stands for the ulnar collateral ligament. This ligament is in the elbow. This procedure involves a surgeon repairing the injured UCL by replacing it with a tendon taken from another part of the patient’s body. The surgery is commonly done on athletes who are at an increased risk of injuring the UCL ligament in their elbow. Baseball players commonly receive this surgery because of the tension that is put on their elbows. If you have injured your UCL and need surgery, contact Dr. David Altchek for an elbow surgeon HSS. 

What are the symptoms of a UCL injury?

Typically, UCL injuries are common in baseball players. However, there are additional sports where UCL injuries can occur. These sports include:

• Javelin throw
• Tennis
• Gymnastics
• Soccer
• Football
• Wrestling
• Cheerleading

If you are an athlete in the sports above, it is important to understand the probable symptoms of a UCL injury. Some of the most common symptoms of UCL injuries are elbow pain and a feeling of instability and looseness in the elbow. Another symptom is irritation of the ulnar nerve, also known as the funny bone. This can turn into numbness or tingling in the ring finger and small finger. These symptoms interfere with throwing or other elbow movements in sports, making it easier to recognize that you may have a UCL tear. Additionally, sometimes UCL tears can cause difficulty during activities besides throwing in sports. These activities include:

• Lifting weights
• Running
• Doing daily activities
• Batting (baseball)
• Basic exercise

UCL tears can cause lots of difficulty in sports but also activities in our daily lives. Hence, it is important to seek medical help if you suspect a UCL injury. For an elbow surgeon HSS, contact Dr. David Altchek. 

Is surgery the first treatment option?

Typically, UCL injuries are first treated with ice, over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medications, and rest. Physical therapy can then be used to help strengthen the muscles around the UCL to help ease the muscle into recovery. However, many athletes opt for the UCL reconstruction surgery because it allows them to go back to their sport and have a recovered, strong UCL. The UCL reconstruction surgery can be a first treatment option, especially for athletes who want to go back to throwing in sports and those who don’t respond to rest, ice, and medications. Doctors like David Altchek can perform an elbow surgeon HSS and help his patients get back to throwing at the level they were before their injury.

What happens during UCL reconstruction surgery?

During UCL reconstruction surgery, a tendon is taken from another part of the patient’s body and used to repair the damaged ligament. Some of the body parts that a tendon can be taken from include:

• Wrist
• Toe
• Forearm
• Hamstring
• Hip
• Knee
• Foot

The tendon used is also called a graft. To reconstruct the damaged ligament, a surgeon drills tunnels in the ulna and humerus. The tendon is placed through the tunnels and is intertwined following a figure-eight pattern with the ligament to reconstruct it. The original ligament is attached to the tendon to stabilize and strengthen it. Although this surgery effectively stabilizes the UCL, complications like damage to the ulnar nerve, hematomas, and infections can happen. 

UCL reconstruction surgery recovery process

It usually takes a year for patients to recover from UCL reconstruction surgery. Rehabilitation is a process, which is why it is typically divided into three phases. Continue reading below for more information on the phases of rehabilitation.

Phase 1:

• Total body rehabilitation exercises
• Wearing a splint for a week
• Simple range of motion exercises for the wrist, shoulder, and hand
• Exercises to strengthen the shoulder

Phase 2:

• About 6 weeks after surgery
• Avoid activities that put excess stress on the UCL and tendon for about 4 months
• Practicing elbow strengthening activities

Phase 3 (athletes):

• After 4 or 5 months: throw/toss a ball without winding up
• After 6 months: practice winding up, but not too fast
• After 7 months: for baseball players, pitchers can return to pitching
• After 9 months: pitchers can pitch in a game but only if they have no pain and are back to their prior strength level before injury. 

If you have injured your UCL, Dr. David Altchek can help you get back to where you were before the injury. He uses UCL reconstruction surgery in Manhattan to help his patients live pain-free and get back to sports as soon as possible. Contact Dr. David Altchek to schedule an appointment! 

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Have you ever needed elbow surgery because of hurting it while doing an everyday activity? If you have, you know that our elbow joints allow us to flex, bend, rotate, and reach our arms. It is also extremely easy to hurt this area of our arm by doing a simple daily activity. Tennis elbow is a common condition in many individuals, if this were to happen, you must seek medical attention as soon as possible. If you require an elbow surgeon HSS, Dr. David Altchek, MD, can give you the treatment you are looking for. Dr. Altchek is a talented orthopedic and sports medicine surgeon. He has years of experience in medical services.

Causes of Tennis Elbow

If you happen to experience an ache on the outside of your elbow and it turns into constant pain over time that goes into your forearms and wrist, you may have Tennis Elbow. Some causes include:

• Any repetitive forceful motion that pulls on the muscle and tendon can cause tennis elbow. 
• In tennis, hitting a backhand while gripping the tennis racket can put stress on the forearm muscles.
• If your technique is off while playing tennis, it can put stress on the tendons that connect your forearm muscles to your elbow.
• You can get tennis elbow from other racquet sports like squash or racquetball.
• You can get tennis elbow from daily jobs and activities such as cutting down trees, painting, carpentry, playing instruments, kitchen work, plumbing, working on cars, or working on an assembly line.
• Certain sports, such as golf, tennis, and baseball, are all sports with a repeating motion of the elbow.
• Leaning on your elbow for a long time at work can cause painful swelling to the joint. 
• Lifting and holding a heavy item like a briefcase.

Ways to Prevent Tennis Elbow

Adjustments can be made to prevent Tennis Elbow, including:

• Keep your arms and wrists strong and flexible- build strength with lighter weights.
• Warm up and stretch before every activity that involves making the same motion over and over.
• Do not make many repetitive movements.
• If you play a sport with a racquet, make sure all equipment is the correct size and fit.
• General safety tips– Don’t drink too much alcohol, avoid slippery sidewalks, and slow down to prevent accidents in a hurry.
• Take lessons to learn the correct techniques of sports such as golf, tennis, and baseball.
• Strengthen your bones to reduce the chance of breaking one if you fall or get into an accident- Eat a lot of calcium and vitamin D and get exercise to improve balance as well.
• Squeeze a tennis ball for 5 minutes at a time or do wrist curls with light weights.

Why Should You Choose Dr. Altchek For An Elbow Surgeon HSS?

We are constantly using our elbows to move and function correctly. Individuals should never allow elbow pain to control their lives. It’s important to know what type of treatment you need for your condition and what doctor is the best to use for that situation. Dr. Altchek is a second-generation orthopedic physician and Co-Chief Emeritus at the Hospital for Special Surgery. He is one of the lead consultants to the NBA and is a top doctor for many professional athletes. If you require an elbow surgeon HSS, Dr. David Altchek, MD, specializes in several services to aid patients:

• Lateral Epicondylitis (Tennis Elbow)
• Medial Epicondylitis (Golfer’s Elbow)
• Ulnar Collateral Ligament (UCL) Injuries
• Dislocation
• Biceps Tendon Rupture
• Bursitis
• Throwing Injuries

Schedule An Appointment with Dr. Altchek: Elbow Surgeon HSS

Tennis Elbow affects 3% of people between the ages of 30 and 50. Adults should be aware of common injuries in people their age to be cautious of themselves. If you are noticing a manageable pain in your elbow that slowly turns worse, it is time to get it checked up with the right doctor. Dr. Altchek is one of the best-known doctors in New York. He will take the time to evaluate your needs and make an adjustment just for you to get you back to doing what you love! 

Dr. Altchek is committed to providing top-notch care to anyone who needs his services. If you require an elbow surgeon HSS, contact Dr. David Altchek, MD, and get the help you need!