THE PITCHING EPIDEMIC The facts behind Tommy John surgery
Photo by Sydney Katz You have to be a winner. You most commonly occurs in baseball have to get a scholarship. You need pitchers. Athletes that participate to throw faster and harder and better in American football, javelin, than the rest of your competition. Five gymnastics, softball, tennis and water more throws and you can stop. Five polo are also susceptible to the injury. more throws and you’re done for the A study done by researchers at night. However, those Columbia University five extra throws every “I PLAYED FOR SIX Medical Center found single night for years an increase in the without rest can cause MONTHS STRAIGHT number of adolescents significant damage AND TOOK A FOUR getting the surgery. The to a young athlete. results show that the MONTH BREAK. The Ulnar total volume of UCL Collateral Ligament WHEN I CAME BACK surgeries increased (UCL) reconstruction by nearly 200%, while I ACTED LIKE I surgery, better known the number of UCL as the Tommy John per NEVER LEFT AND reconstructions surgery, is being done 100,000 people tripled MESSED UP MY on more patients every from 0.15 to 0.45. year. According to the From the study, ELBOW” US National Library almost all of the of Medicine National -JOSHUA LOPEZ growth occurred in Institutes of Health, one two age groups, 17 to in four major league JUNIOR 18-year-olds and 19 baseball pitchers have to 20-year-olds. The to get the surgery, but procedure is becoming the surgery is being done on much more prevalent with the younger younger patients than it has in the past. age groups, and the rates are A UCL can tear in any single expected to continue rising. traumatic event, but it is usually the “One of my teammates has been result of a sports injury. The cause having pain and issues in her arm,” involves repetitive overuse and softball player and junior Sierra Huddle forceful motion, so it most commonly said. “She can’t take a break because we happens in throwing sports. That are in season and she is committed.” explains why injury to the UCL The baseball team at CCHS
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practices six to seven times a week; they play one to two times a week and have morning workouts every Monday and Friday. Injuries are bound to happen, and overuse usually has something to do with these injuries. One varsity baseball pitcher, junior Joshua Lopez, injured himself after too much practice. “I played for six months straight and took like a four-month break,” Lopez said. “When I came back I acted like I never left and messed up my elbow.” Prevention is better than repair. Athletes who have Tommy John surgery in high school have a higher risk of reinjuring themselves later. To prevent tearing a UCL, there are certain steps athletes should take. Pitchers should strengthen muscles associated with throwing to take pressure off the ligament, and there needs to be a limit to the number of throws. Icing and stretching are important to do while doing anything sports-related. “I haven’t gotten seriously hurt; my shoulder would just be sore,” varsity softball pitcher junior Jordan Hustey said. “I make sure I stretch now and ice after I pitch.” There is an epidemic among baseball players. The injury is affecting more athletes every single year, and if something is not done, the rates will continue to rise.
BY KYLEIGH SPRIGLE
