What Is Your “Tommy John” Ligament?
You’ve probably heard of a few odd or unusual terms that refer to various medical conditions, body parts, or specific injuries. One of the most common of these terms, particularly heard in sports circles, is used to describe the Ulnar Collateral Ligament (UCL) of the elbow, also known as the “Tommy John Ligament.”
The UCL, or Tommy John ligament, is the main ligament stabilizing the inner part of the elbow. It attaches the end of the arm bone to one of the forearm bones. The UCL is often torn or stretched by activities causing repetitive strain on the ligament – particularly throwing or tennis. Stretching of the ligament can cause subtle instability in the elbow leading to pain with repetitive throwing. Often the ligament needs to be reconstructed with a tendon graft to restore its strength and allow return to pain-free throwing or overhead sports, a procedure that has become common in baseball pitchers.
Where Did The Name Tommy John Come From?
Tommy John was major league baseball pitcher for the L.A. Dodgers and New York Yankees over a twenty-year career and was the first person to undergo the procedure that now carries his name. John began to experience some serious ligament discomfort and pitching problems around 1974. Dr. Frank Jobe, a noted orthopaedic surgeon who was team physician for the L.A. Dodgers at that time diagnosed John with tearing of the UCL as the cause of his pitching problems and devised a new surgical procedure to reconstruct the ligament – a radical and controversial treatment at the time. Back then, it was believed that a major league pitcher could never return to pitching in the big leagues after having surgery. Faced with few options and the prospect of having to retire from baseball, John placed his trust in Dr. Jobe and underwent the procedure. He then went on to return to the major leagues and had a successful Hall of Fame carreer. Based on his success, the procedure became known as the “Tommy John” procedure and is now commonly performed on baseball pitchers with painful elbows.
Misconceptions About the “Tommy John” Procedure
Based on John’s experience and the success of others who have had the procedure over the years there has become a misconception that undergoing the procedure can actually improve pitching performance over that of having a normal elbow. Many players and coaches came to believe that the procedure increased pitching velocity and accuracy and that players were actually “better” after undergoing the procedure. There is no medical or biomechanical evidence to support this. However, most sports medicine and athletic trainers believe that the post-operative rehab and strengthening that players undergo after the surgery is what often times can lead to their improved performance. This has lead to more research and focus on prevent exercises and training regimens to improve performance in throwing and to help prevent the need for a thrower to undergo a “Tommy John” procedure.
Read this: Advair Diskus
Undeniably believe that which you said. Your favorite reason seemed to be on the web the simplest thing to be aware of. I say to you, I certainly get irked while people think about worries that they just do not know about. You managed to hit the nail upon the top as well as defined out the whole thing without having side-effects , people can take a signal. Will likely be back to get more. Thanks
I have not checked in here for a while because I thought it was getting boring, but the last several posts are great quality so I guess I will add you back to my daily bloglist. You deserve it my friend 🙂
I¡¦m now not sure where you are getting your information, but great topic. I must spend a while finding out more or figuring out more. Thanks for great info I used to be looking for this information for my mission.
Great remarkable things here. I am very satisfied to peer your article. Thanks so much and i’m looking forward to touch you. Will you please drop me a mail?
Thanks for the sensible critique. Me & my neighbor were just preparing to do a little research on this. We got a grab a book from our local library but I think I learned more clear from this post. I am very glad to see such fantastic info being shared freely out there.
I must point out my affection for your generosity for those who really want guidance on your concept. Your very own commitment to passing the message all around had become surprisingly effective and have all the time made guys and women like me to arrive at their endeavors. Your amazing important suggestions means so much a person like me and further more to my office workers. Thank you; from everyone of us.
I like what you guys are up also. Such clever work and reporting! Carry on the excellent works guys I¡¦ve incorporated you guys to my blogroll. I think it will improve the value of my website 🙂
A person necessarily assist to make significantly articles I would state. That is the first time I frequented your web page and thus far? I amazed with the research you made to make this particular submit amazing. Wonderful job!
You really make it appear really easy together with your presentation however I to find this matter to be really something that I believe I would by no means understand. It kind of feels too complicated and extremely large for me. I’m having a look ahead to your next put up, I¡¦ll try to get the cling of it!
Hello. remarkable job. I did not anticipate this. This is a great story. Thanks!
It’s an remarkable piece of writing designed for all the internet viewers; they will get advantage from it I am sure.|
I have been exploring for a bit for any high-quality articles or blog posts in this kind of space . Exploring in Yahoo I ultimately stumbled upon this site. Reading this info So i¡¦m happy to exhibit that I have a very good uncanny feeling I came upon exactly what I needed. I such a lot definitely will make certain to don¡¦t put out of your mind this website and provides it a glance on a continuing basis.
I like what you guys are up also. Such clever work and reporting! Keep up the superb works guys I¡¦ve incorporated you guys to my blogroll. I think it’ll improve the value of my site 🙂
magnificent post, very informative. I wonder why the opposite specialists of this sector do not notice this. You must continue your writing. I’m sure, you have a huge readers’ base already!
My wife and i were quite joyous Chris could complete his studies out of the precious recommendations he made from your very own site. It’s not at all simplistic to simply continually be giving freely facts which usually people today have been selling. And now we take into account we have got the blog owner to thank for this. The specific explanations you’ve made, the straightforward site navigation, the relationships your site assist to engender – it’s all superb, and it is assisting our son and us reckon that the article is awesome, and that’s seriously important. Thanks for all the pieces!
Wow! This can be one particular of the most useful blogs We’ve ever arrive across on this subject. Basically Excellent. I am also a specialist in this topic therefore I can understand your hard work.
Wonderful items from you, man. I have bear in mind your stuff previous to and you are simply too great. I actually like what you have obtained here, really like what you are saying and the way wherein you assert it. You are making it enjoyable and you continue to care for to stay it wise. I cant wait to learn far more from you. This is really a tremendous web site.|
What i don’t understood is in truth how you’re no longer actually much more neatly-liked than you may be now. You are so intelligent. You recognize thus considerably in relation to this matter, produced me in my view believe it from numerous varied angles. Its like men and women are not involved until it is something to accomplish with Lady gaga! Your own stuffs outstanding. All the time care for it up!
I haven¡¦t checked in here for a while since I thought it was getting boring, but the last few posts are great quality so I guess I will add you back to my daily bloglist. You deserve it my friend 🙂
Thanks for sharing superb informations. Your web site is very cool. I’m impressed by the details that you¡¦ve on this web site. It reveals how nicely you perceive this subject. Bookmarked this website page, will come back for extra articles. You, my friend, ROCK! I found simply the information I already searched all over the place and simply couldn’t come across. What a great web-site.