Controversies in the Management of the Throwing Athlete (AANA25)-Current Controversies in the Management of the Throwing Athlete

Video Transcription

Video Summary

The conference session focused on managing injuries in throwing athletes, particularly baseball and softball players, and included talks from several experts in orthopedic surgery and sports medicine.<br /><br />Dr. Brian Waterman discussed SLAP tears, which are common in baseball players. He explained the need to balance surgical intervention, such as SLAP repair or biceps tenodesis, with minimizing over-constraint, which can harm throwing performance. Dr. Waterman highlighted the difficulty in diagnosing these injuries accurately and explained how surgical techniques have evolved to focus more on knotless repairs to preserve performance and reduce post-surgical complications.<br /><br />Dr. Mike Freehill addressed UCL injuries in athletes, particularly pitchers. He discussed repair versus reconstruction and the use of the internal brace technique to expedite recovery while ensuring joint stability. Dr. Freehill emphasized that decision-making in treatment must consider factors like the athlete's age, specific tear location, and their playing level, as improper treatment can compromise the athlete's performance or prolong recovery.<br /><br />Attention shifted to softball, with discussions on the shoulder stresses from the windmill pitch. The discussion highlighted the lack of regulation in softball regarding pitch counts compared to baseball, which contributes to a higher risk of overuse injuries. Dr. Liz Matzkin focused on the biomechanics of softball pitching and its implications on shoulder injuries, advocating for more research and better regulation to prevent injuries.<br /><br />The final talks touched on managing labral tears, noting that surgical intervention can severely impact the return to pre-injury levels for throwers, emphasizing the importance of non-operative management when possible. Overall, the session underscored the complexity of treating sports injuries in throwers, calling for tailored approaches that consider individual athlete needs and biomechanics.

Asset Caption

Mary K. Mulcahey, M.D., FAANA | Brian R. Waterman, M.D., FAANA | Michael T. Freehill, M.D. | Elizabeth R. Matzkin, M.D.

Keywords

throwing athletes

baseball injuries

softball injuries

SLAP tears

biceps tenodesis

UCL injuries

internal brace technique

shoulder biomechanics

overuse injuries

labral tears

sports medicine