UConn Health's Dr. Cory Edgar talks youth sports injuries on Dr. Anthony Alessi's podcast
Dr. Cory Edgar (left), UConn Health orthopedic surgeon and co-director of the UConn Institute for Sports Medicine, joins Dr. Anthony Alessi on his "Healthy Rounds" podcast at UConn Health. (Photos by Peter Morenus and Tina Encarnacion)
In 1974, a 31-year-old pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers underwent a new procedure to repair the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) in his left elbow. His name was Tommy John, and so would become the name of the surgery. Today, it's not unheard of for baseball players to get Tommy John surgery before they turn 20. One factor is, it's become the norm for many child athletes to specialize, for example, playing baseball not just during Little League season, but throughout the year. With that has come an upward trend in upper extremity injuries, and elbow and shoulder surgeries as adolescents.
Dr. Cory Edgar, UConn Health orthopedic surgeon and co-director of the UConn Institute for Sports Medicine, joins Dr. Anthony Alessi to discuss youth sports injuries, the risks of playing a sport year-round with no downtime, the importance of pitch counts, and what parents might consider when it comes to their children's participation in youth sports.
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e're seeing an uptick in injuries to the elbow and the shoulder in younger athletes for a variety of reasons. — Dr. Cory Edgar
Listen now:
