{"id":1759,"date":"2013-07-27T09:09:21","date_gmt":"2013-07-27T16:09:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.brianschiff.com\/?p=1759"},"modified":"2013-07-27T09:11:20","modified_gmt":"2013-07-27T16:11:20","slug":"outcomes-for-elite-pitchers-after-shoulder-surgery","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.brianschiff.com\/?p=1759","title":{"rendered":"Outcomes for Elite Pitchers After Shoulder Surgery"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"verlander\"

Photo from Bleacher Report<\/p><\/div>\n

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Shoulder surgery is a big concern for any professional pitcher. \u00a0I am currently rehabbing two MLB pitchers (one from a labral repair and the other from a Tommy John procedure and obviously not JV pictured above). They are doing great so far in their early rehab, but time will tell if they make it back to their pre-injury pitching levels.<\/p>\n

Overuse injuries in youth baseball players is always a huge concern I have. \u00a0In fact, I speculate that early wear and tear may contribute to injuries seen down the road in HS, college or the pro ranks. \u00a0I know from coaching and observing that more youth coaches need to familiarize themselves with pitch count guidelines and rest\/recovery recommendations that Little League baseball now endorses.<\/p>\n

As a sports physical therapist who sees 12 year-olds with RC problems and torn UCLs and as a father\/coach of a 10 y\/o left-handed pitcher, I have a strong passion and vested interest in the welfare of baseball pitchers. While research does not equate increased injury risk with throwing curveballs and sliders to date per se, both of my MLB clients advise against it until athletes turn 14 or 15.<\/p>\n

For \u00a0information on injury prevention and pitching guidelines for youth, check out this website:<\/p>\n

http:\/\/www.asmi.org\/research.php?page=research&section=positionStatement<\/p>\n

Today\u2019s blog post focuses on outcomes following surgery for elite pitchers. \u00a0The following information was just published in the Jul\/Aug 2013 edition of Sports Health by Harris et al. based on literature review based on these outcome measures:<\/p>\n

Primary = pitcher\u2019s rate of return to sport (RTS) at the same level prior to injury<\/p>\n

Secondary = rates of RTS regardless of level, performance upon RTS and clinical outcome scores<\/p>\n

\u201cElite\u201d was defined as throwing in at least one game in MLB, minor league (A, AA, or AAA) or all collegiate divisions. \u00a0 Six level I-IV studies were included with enrollment from 1976 – 2007, and there were 287 elite male pitchers who underwent shoulder surgery with 99% on the dominant throwing shoulder. \u00a0Most pitchers (276) were professional with a mean career length of 6.58 years. \u00a0Post-operative clinical follow-up within these studies was 3.62 years.<\/p>\n

Primary diagnoses treated:<\/p>\n