
Preventing Tommy John surgery is at high demand in the game of baseball due to the commonality of the surgery. This article will look at what it takes to prevent Tommy John surgery. Evidence suggests that the elbow is a link in the kinetic chain which is best used to regulate and transfer force to the baseball (Kibler & Sciascia, 2004). Therefore, the elbow is less vulnerable to injury when the shoulder and the rest of the body work together to generate energy and optimize performance. Kibler and Chandler (1995) went even farther to suggest, that through the kinetic chain, a 20% decrease in kinetic energy delivered from the hip and trunk to the arm requires a 34% increase in the rotational velocity of the shoulder to impart the same amount of force to the hand. Therefore, the key to preventing ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) damage biomechanically is better using the entire kinetic chain.
Factors to Prevent Tommy John Surgery
Here is the best-detailed explanation I can find on how the kinetic chain can prevent
The two key muscles that are important to help protect the elbow through the high risk sequences of the arm path are the flexor carpi ulnaris (FCU) and flexor digitorum superficialis (FDS). The FCU is optimally placed to provide significant support to the UCL (Jobe, & Kvitne, 1991). Even more, evidence suggests from a biomechanical analysis that generated kinematic data that the flexo-pronator mass mainly the FCU was the key dynmic stabilizer of the joint (Park, & Ahmad, 2004). It is important to note that electromyography (EMG) studies have discovered decreased activity of the pronator teres and FCU in pitchers with UCL insufficiency (Hamilton et al., 1996). These studies help paint the picture that the flexor-pronator mass is the key line of defense against UCL damage. This means it is critical for pitchers to strengthen this musculature to optimize its dynamic role which will have a significant impact against future risk of injury.
Biomechanics to Prevent Tommy John Surgery
Clinical evidence suggests from a biomechanical analysis how critically important the shoulder is to
Reference to Prevent Tommy John Surgery
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Fleisig, G. S., Andrews, J. R., Dillman, C. J., & Escamilla, R. F. (1995). Kinetics of baseball pitching with implications about injury mechanisms. American Journal of Sports Medicine, 23(2), 233-9.
Hamilton, C. D., Glousman, R. E., Jobe, F. W., Brault, J., Pink, M., & Perry, J. (1996). Dynamic stability of the elbow: electromyographic analysis of the flexor pronator group and the extensor group in pitchers with valgus instability. Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery, 5(5), 347-54.
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Park, M. C., & Ahmad, C. S. (2004). Dynamic contributions of the flexor-pronator mass to elbow valgus stability. The Journal of bone and joint surgery. American volume, 86-A(10), 2268-74.