Dr. Christopher S. Ahmad

  Few procedures have had as significant an impact on sports medicine as Tommy John surgery. What began as an experimental operation in 1974 for a professional baseball pitcher has developed into one of the best-known forms of elbow ligament reconstruction in sports. The procedure is more formally known as ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) reconstruction . It was developed by orthopedic surgeon Dr. Frank Jobe after Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Tommy John suffered a devastating UCL injury. At the time, a torn UCL was generally considered a career-ending injury for a pitcher. Jobe's operation changed that expectation. More than five decades later, Tommy John surgery looks considerably different from the procedure performed in 1974. Surgeons have refined graft selection, fixation methods, surgical techniques, rehabilitation protocols and the understanding of throwing biomechanics. In some carefully selected injuries, surgeons may also consider UCL repair rather than traditional reconstru...

Shoulder pain is one of the most common reasons people put off everyday activities — reaching for a shelf, throwing a ball, or even sleeping on one side becomes uncomfortable. Often, the culprit is the rotator cuff, a group of four muscles and tendons that stabilize the shoulder joint and allow the arm to lift and rotate. Understanding how these injuries develop, and when they need professional attention, can help you avoid long-term damage. What Is the Rotator Cuff? The rotator cuff is made up of the supraspinatus, infraspinatus, teres minor, and subscapularis muscles, along with their tendons. Together, they hold the head of the humerus (upper arm bone) securely in the shoulder socket while allowing a wide range of motion. Because the shoulder is one of the most mobile joints in the body, it relies heavily on this soft-tissue support system rather than bone structure for stability — which also makes it more vulnerable to injury. Common Causes of Rotator Cuff Injuries Rotator cuff pro...