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Free Webinar – Treating Our Youth From Head To Toe

By Jim Monaghan
Baseball Health Network

Jim Monaghan

Youth sports specialization is on the rise. As a result, the prevalence of pediatric ACL injuries is also increasing. Join Columbia University Sports Medicine on November 13th for Pediatric Sports Injuries: Treating our youth from head to toe to learn about the latest techniques for prevention and treatment of these injuries in our young athletes.

Children are playing sports in record numbers across the United States, and with this increase in participation there has been an alarming rise in the number of sports injuries. Taking optimal care of these injured kids requires extensive knowledge and comfort in techniques that have previously been thought of as only pediatric, or only adult. This webinar reviews and discusses treatment strategies to maximize outcomes and get these developing athletes off the sidelines and back onto the field. Understanding the etiology, diagnosis, surgical, and non-surgical modalities are the key elements of a successful treatment plan. This course will be of interest to Team Physicians, Certified Athletic Trainers, Physical Therapists, Primary Care Sports Medicine Physicians and coaches of all youth levels.

At the conclusion of this activity, participants will be better able to:

  • Interpret and differentiate the physiology of pediatric sports injuries to formulate a treatment plan
  • Classify and identify different graft options to reconstruct a pediatric ACL injury in order to generate an appropriate recovery plan
  • Analyze and recognize the role of Orthobiologics such as PRP in the Developing Athlete
  • Understand and implement treatment options for patellar instability in the growing athlete
  • Produce a workup and plan for the developing athlete with lower back pain

FACULTY/AGENDA –
Charles A. Popkin, MD
Pediatric ACL Reconstruction: What you need to know in 2018
Elan L. Goldwaser, DO
Concussion in the Developing Mind: Pearls for concussion management in kids under 12
Lauren H. Redler, MD
Patellar Instability in the Developing Athlete
Benjamin D. Roye, MD, MPH
Back Pain in the Developing Athlete: When should you be concerned?
Christopher S. Ahmad, MD
The Tommy John Epidemic in Youth Throwers: How can we stop it?

This course is free to all participants.

Tagged With: Baseball Health Network, Columbia Orthopedics, Dr. Christopher Ahmad, high school baseball, Little League Baseball, Tommy John Surgery, Youth Baseball

Former MLB Pitching Coach Leo Mazzone Coming to NYC

By Jim Monaghan
Baseball Health Network

Jim Monaghan

Well-known radio/television host and noted author Ed Randall and his Fans For the Cure charity will present a special evening devoted to pitching and injury avoidance on Tuesday July 24 from 7-9 PM.

Leo Mazzone - Atlanta BravesOf particular interest to young players, their parents and coaches, the legendary Tommy John, Leo Mazzone, Atlanta Braves pitching coach to three Hall of Famers, and former noted Oakland A’s and Mets pitching coach, Rick Peterson, will speak on pitching and injury avoidance.

Leo Mazzone is no stranger to baseball fans. As the pitching coach for the Atlanta Braves, he presided over a pitching staff that won fourteen consecutive National League Eastern Division titles.

This will take place at the SVA Theater in New York City for a lively conversation in front of a live audience.

Tickets and more information can be found here.

Tagged With: Atlanta Braves, Ed Randall, Leo Mazzone, New York Mets, Rick Peterson, Tommy John, WFAN

Free Live Webinar – Advances in Shoulder Arthroplasty

By Jim Monaghan
Baseball Health Network

Jim MonaghanThis is a great chance for you to get the latest advances in shoulder arthroplasty.

Baseball Health Network founding member Dr. Christopher Ahmad and the team at Columbia Orthopedics invite you to a free live webinar event – Advances in Shoulder Arthroplasty: An Evidence Based Update for 2018 – on May 22 at 8 PM EDT.
‘
The management and treatment options for early, middle, and late stage shoulder arthritis has been under much debate in recent years. As implant technology improves, so do the treatment options available to surgeons.

Sound judgment and understanding the anatomic difference can improve treatment outcomes. This course will discuss both empirical research and clinical findings related to: stem design and length, new evidence surrounding next generation glenoid implants, and debates on what materials are best for a reverse total shoulder with glenoid deficiencies.

At the conclusion of this activity, participants will be better able to:

  • Understand the different clinical indications for different stem designs in Total Shoulder Replacements
  • Gain better understanding of the techniques used in anatomic Total Shoulder Replacement
  • Arthroscopic indications and treatment options for treating patients with Total Shoulder Replacement
  • Guide a patient through post-surgical planning, rehabilitation, and return to activities of daily living

FACULTY & AGENDA
William Levine, MD
Stemless, Short-stem, Long-stem: Does it Matter?
Posterior Glenoid Bone Loss in Cuff Intact Arthritis: What Should We Do?

Christopher Ahmad, MD
Short Stem Anatomic Replacement Surgical Technique
Arthroscopic Indications and Techniques to Treat the Painful TSA

Charles Jobin, MD
What’s the Evidence on New Generation Glenoid Implants?
The Reality of Converting an Anatomic Replacement to Reverse

David Kovacevic, MD
Reverse Arthroplasty with Massively Deficient Glenoid: Autograft, Allograft, or Metal?

Rommel Dolar, DPT
Sports Participation After Shoulder Replacement

This course will be of interest to Orthopedic Surgeons, Primary Care Sports Medicine Physicians, Physical Therapists, Certified Athletic Trainers, Residents, and Fellows.

Tagged With: Baseball Health Network, Columbia Orthopedics, Dr. Christopher Ahmad

Growth Plate Injuries In Baseball

By Dr. Christopher Ahmad
Frank Alexander
Baseball Health Network

Dr. Christopher AhmadFrank AlexanderMost players and parents are aware of the term “Little Leaguer’s Elbow,” but may not fully understand what it truly is. Little Leaguer’s Elbow was first coined in 1960 to describe an injury caused by the repetitive throwing motions in children. Technically, it’s an inflammation of the growth plate in the part of the bone called the medial epicondyle. The medial epicondyle is the palpable bump or knob on the inside of our elbow. Little Leaguer’s Shoulder is an inflammation of the growth plate of the shoulder called the proximal humeral physis which is in the bone called the humerus. Inflammation causes a widening of the growth plate which causes the pain players feel while throwing. In most cases, only an x-ray is needed to diagnosis Little Leaguer’s Elbow or Shoulder.

Little Leaguer's Shoulder & Elbow
X-rays of the shoulder (left) and elbow (right) demonstrating Little Leaguer’s syndrome of that joint (arrows)
While commonly seen in pitchers, Little Leaguer’s Elbow and Shoulder can occur in any young baseball player. Typically, the players who suffer from these injuries are between 12-16 years old and are still growing. The inflammation is caused by the repetitive stress of overhead throwing. Improper throwing mechanics, muscle imbalances, and fatigue also play a role in the development of growth plate injuries.

Little Leaguer's Elbow
X-rays demonstrating screw fixation of a medial epicondyle fracture due to excessive throwing and progressive Little Leaguer’s Elbow
In the elbow, the pitching motion creates a pulling stress to the inside part of the elbow and is primarily resisted by the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL). The UCL is like a rope or shoelace that is firmly attached to bone and in a growing child, the exact attachment location includes a growth plate called the medial apophysis. This is also the location where the forearm muscles attach, which can add additional stress to the growth plate. In children, the growth plate and UCL are weaker than in an adult. The growth plate is the weak link in the chain in kids and can be injured with inflammation or can sustain a fracture. In some instances of Little Leaguer’s Elbow where players continue to play through the pain, the growth plate can become so damaged that the athlete may need surgery. Surgery entails a screw being inserted into the elbow to correct the injury. For players who are no longer growing, the more common injury is to the UCL, an injury that often requires Tommy John Surgery in order for the athlete to resume high-level competitive throwing.

Our recommended treatment for Little Leaguer’s Elbow or Shoulder is complete rest from baseball activities – including hitting – for a minimum of 6 weeks. We also prescribe physical therapy for the player to work on leg and core exercises in addition to their upper body regimen to enhance their kinetic chain that is developed while throwing. After the 6 weeks of rest, we repeat a clinical examination. If the player is pain free, we implement a gradual throwing program. The throwing program is designed to make sure the player builds back up their throwing strength before returning to full, unrestricted competition. Players typically return to full competition in around 3 months.

Regardless if a player is suffering from Little Leaguer’s Elbow or Little Leaguer’s Shoulder, they can still run and play other sports that do not involve overhead throwing while they’re shut down from baseball activities. Should a player not adhere to the prescribed rest, this injury can be cumulative – meaning if the player rushes back too soon then they’ll have to sit out for 12 weeks the second time they become injured, 24 weeks the third time and so on.

Players can avoid these injuries by making sure they get enough rest. When we say rest, we mean taking time off between pitching outings, and for position players, enough rest between games. These types of injuries are overuse in nature so making sure a player gets adequate rest is important. We also suggest players rest during the off-season as well. Studies have shown that players who do not rest for 3 months have a 3600% chance of injuring their throwing shoulder or elbow where surgery is recommended. Another good tip for injury prevention is to not play on multiple teams in a single season. Playing on multiple teams can lead to overuse, and lack of communication between coaches may put a player in a position where they may feel obligated to play through pain. Keeping a log or journal of how many innings and pitches the player has thrown is a good way to keep track of how a player is being used.

Dr. Christopher Ahmad is a founding member of the Baseball Health Network and is the head team physician for the New York Yankees.

Frank J. Alexander, Jr., M.S., ATC, is a Physician Extender to Dr. Christopher Ahmad, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at Columbia University Medical Center.

Tagged With: Dr. Christopher Ahmad, Frank Alexander, Little League Elbow, Little League Shoulder, Tommy John Surgery, UCL, ulnar collateral ligament

Understanding Tommy John Surgery – And How To Avoid It

By Dr. Christopher Ahmad
Baseball Health Network

Dr. Christopher AhmadIn baseball, we have reached epidemic levels of players needing Tommy John Surgery. At the Major League level, one in four pitchers has had Tommy John as a result of tearing their ulnar collateral ligament, or UCL. Unfortunately, these numbers translate to many younger players needing the surgery as well. To help combat the issues facing America’s pastime, I, along with Frank Alexander and Charlie Ahmad put our heads together and wrote Understanding Tommy John Surgery and How To Avoid It: A Guide for Young Baseball Players.

Understanding Tommy John SurgeryTo reverse these epidemic trends our goal is to start changing the culture at the youth levels before bad habits develop, similar to how we educate children on the dangers of smoking. In our office, we’re seeing younger and younger players walk through the door at an alarming rate. We hope that by educating younger athletes, they won’t wind up in our office when they’re older.

Adds Frank, “I remember playing and even when I worked at the college level, guys walked around the clubhouse or dugout with their scar from Tommy John as a badge of honor. They viewed it as a rite of passage. No player should ever want to have surgery and it’s time that we change that line of thinking.”

Understanding Tommy John dives into the anatomy of the elbow, what the process is like when a player gets injured, and offers tips and tricks for youth baseball players to stay healthy. By taking action earlier, players can make better decisions and avoid injury by understanding how the elbow works and what mistakes can be avoided before they land in our office!

Tagged With: Baseball Health Network, Dr. Christopher Ahmad, Major League Baseball, Tommy John Surgery, UCL, Youth Baseball

Advancements In ACL Surgery

By Frank Alexander
Baseball Health Network

Frank AlexanderPreviously, we’ve discussed anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction surgery and the importance of prehab after sustaining an injury to your ACL. No athlete wants to injure their ACL but there is good news for athletes who may have injured their ligament. There have been advancements in ACL surgery that Dr. Ahmad and Team Ahmad are at the forefront of that can help get athletes back to playing sooner!

Knee jointIt was first reported in 1903 by Mayo Robson that the ACL could be surgically repaired and patients could remain hopeful that they’d have a good outcome. Over a century later, surgeons are able to perform 3 different types of surgery to help a patient with an injured ACL: primary repair, repair with augmentation, and reconstruction. Typically, after a reconstruction, athletes return to sport-specific activity around 6 months post-operatively with full participation on the horizon. Complete, unrestricted return to play may take up to a year. After a repair, return-to-play is nearly half that of a reconstruction!

The ACL is the main stabilizing ligament of the knee. When it tears, the knee may feel unstable or loose. The athlete or patient may not be able to fully bear weight on the injured knee. If they try to participate in athletic events, further injury may occur such as cartilage damage or meniscus tearing. The way the ACL tears plays a role in surgical intervention. Think of the ACL as a rope attached to two bones. If the rope tears through the middle completely, it creates two free ends that are like the ends of a mop. This type of tear will not lend itself to a repair and requires a reconstruction for the ACL to work again. Should the rope tear off the bone rather than in the middle, a repair is possible.

ACL Repair

If the ACL is able to be repaired, physical therapy is able to progress much quicker when compared to a traditional reconstruction. Patients that have a repair could return to sport specific activity potentially as early as 4 months after surgery! ACL repairs are an innovative surgery and can only be used in certain situations as previously described. Our Team is working on new research to help healthcare professionals have a better understanding of ACL repairs and returning athletes to play!

Tagged With: ACL, Dr. Christopher Ahmad, Team Ahmad

New Live Webinar – The Science of Running

By Jim Monaghan
Baseball Health Network

Jim MonaghanAttention: Team Physicians, Certified Athletic Trainers, Physical Therapists, Primary Care Sports Medicine Physicians, runners of all skill levels and outdoor enthusiasts.

Columbia Sports Medicine is presenting another free live webinar on Tuesday September 5 at 8PM that is perfect for you – The Science of Running: How to Stay Healthy and Optimize Performance.

Recreational and organized sports participation is on the rise. The pressure to get athletes back to sport as quickly and safely as possible continues to increase. This course will serve to highlight important topics in sports medicine that are experienced at the highest levels on a daily basis. The management of athletic injuries is under constant debate, often needing to decide between conservative and surgical intervention. Good judgment of the sports provider is vital as management decisions are usually tailored to the individual athlete. Optimal management of these injuries is essential to an athlete’s career. Understanding the etiology, diagnosis, surgical, and non-surgical modalities are the key elements of a successful treatment plan.

Columbia Sports Medicine webinar

The webinar will be moderated by T. Sean Lynch, MD with a panel that includes Christopher Visco, MD (Common Running Injuries: What Can You Train Through and How Can You Prevent Them?), Colleen Brough, PT, DPT, MS, OCS (Gaining That Extra Edge: What Can a Running Analysis Do For You?), Thomas Bottiglieri, DO (The Fountain of Youth: The Promise of Biologics for the Running Athlete), Elan Goldwaser, DO (Cutting Edge Training Techniques: Tools the Experts Use), Natasha Desai, MD (Rest Better to Run Faster: Recovering Like a Pro), and Fiona Nugent, MS, FNP-BC (P.R. your Marathon: Running Coaches’ Secrets to Success).

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

Tagged With: Columbia Orthopedics, Columbia Sports Medicine, running

BHN Interview With Mike Reinold

By Frank Alexander
Baseball Health Network

Frank AlexanderMike Reinold, PT, DPT, SCS, CSCS is the President and Co-Founder of Champion Physical Therapy and Performance in Waltham, Massachusetts. He is a world-renowned expert in physical therapy and sports performance. He uses his background in sport biomechanics, movement quality, muscle imbalances, and manual therapy to help some of the most elite athletes return to the sport they love. Currently a consultant for the Chicago Cubs, Mike played a key role in 2007 as he led the efforts in keeping the Boston Red Sox healthy on their way to a World Series Championship! He has been featured in ESPN, Sports Illustrated, Men’s Health, and peer-reviewed publications such as The American Journal of Sports Medicine and the Journal of Athletic Training, among many others.

Mike was kind enough to talk with Team Ahmad’s Frank Alexander, MS, ATC about his background and how his team at Champion Physical Therapy and Performance keep their athletes healthy.

Mike Reinold
Mike Reinold

Frank Alexander: What made you want to become a physical therapist?
Mike Reinold: I always liked science and sports, but then I took an anatomy class in high school and knew I wanted to get into medicine. I was fascinated by how the body works. I chose physical therapy as a way to integrate my passion for sports medicine, human biomechanics, and helping athletes return to the field.

FA: What advice would you give to someone looking to work with elite athletes?
MR: To get into sports, especially at the elite level, you need to intimately understand the sport. Volunteer your time to work with people that work with elite athletes in the field you are most passionate about. For me, it was baseball. I moved to Alabama in the ‘90s to work with Dr. James Andrews and the team at ASMI. Surround yourself with the best and learn from them. This will put you in a much better position to succeed.

Champion logoFA: How do you help keep your athletes healthy after they’ve completed their formal physical therapy?
MR: Our model at Champion is an integrated approach to performance-based physical therapy and sports performance training. The two areas often overlap and merge. They should be coordinated together. With athletes, our philosophy is that they actually “micro” injure themselves each event, so we encourage proactive performance therapy to help them maintain performance and reduce injuries. This is the model I developed for the Red Sox that we performed throughout the entire system. We were very proactive in maintaining the appropriate physical characteristics throughout the season versus retrospectively waiting for injuries to occur.

FA: What new modalities are you using to help your athletes get the most out of their physical therapy session?
MR: We are always experimenting with new techniques and modalities with the goal of helping athletes stay on the field and get back from injury as fast as possible. We proudly throw the kitchen sink at our athletes. Both instrument assisted soft tissue mobilization (IASTM) and cupping are deeply integrated into all our techniques now. The athletes love it and we often get immediate improvement in how they feel and move. It has been a changer. Lately, we have started to integrate blood flow restriction (BFR) training into our postoperative rehabilitation. This allows us to have a more robust physiological response when loading the body at a lower percentage of their maximum load, which is required in rehab. The results have been promising but we are still developing our specific applications.

Frank J. Alexander, Jr., M.S., ATC, is a Physician Extender to Dr. Christopher Ahmad, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at Columbia University Medical Center.

You can learn more about Mike Einold and his approach to keeping athletes healthy on his website and Champion’s site.

Tagged With: Baseball Health Network, Champion Physical Therapy and Performance, Mike Reinold, Team Ahmad

How To Help Prevent Overuse Injuries

By Frank Alexander
Baseball Health Network

Frank AlexanderIf you play competitive sports, injuries are always a possibility. Nobody knows exactly when or how they will get hurt. Unfortunately, there is no way to predict injuries. Even the most elite athletes fall victim to injuries and spend time on the disabled list or have to sit a few matches out.

While we cannot predict much about injuries, we can avoid many of them. All athletes can prevent a group of injuries called “overuse” injuries. Overuse injuries are just that – when you over use a body part such as an elbow, shoulder, or knee without adequate rest.

golf swingMany overuse injuries happen in adolescent athletes that are still growing. These injuries are fairly common and you may have even heard of a few such as: Little Leaguer’s Shoulder, Little Leaguer’s Elbow, or Jumper’s Knee. Adolescent athletes are not the only population that succumb to overuse injuries. Weekend Warriors, runners, frequent golfers and tennis players also develop overuse injuries. Common overuse injuries in the skeletally mature population include: Tennis Elbow, Golfer’s Elbow, and IT Band Friction Syndrome.

Nobody wants to hear they are injured but the good news is you can recover from them. You have an excellent chance of making a full recovery if you let your body rest and correct any asymmetries and muscle imbalances. Many athletes will not want to “rest” but rest does not mean you cannot exercise or play sports. It just means you have to adjust your routine.

tennis elbowAthletes that have overuse injuries can still participate in sports but may have to stop the sport they got injured playing. If you have Little Leaguer’s Shoulder, it doesn’t mean you have to stop everything for the whole spring or summer, it just means you should take a break from throwing a baseball. Depending on the severity of the condition, some athletes may be allowed to play basketball, soccer, or even swim in a pool. For patients suffering from Golfer’s or Tennis Elbow, a simple adjustment of how you hold a club or a racket may be all it takes to alleviate your symptoms. Any runner with ITB Friction Syndrome may have to take a break from running, but they can still get in the pool or ride a bike. There are plenty of ways to make minor adjustments to exercise routines and still be active while injured!

The best way to prevent these injuries is to make sure you give your body a break every now and then from the demands you place on it. This is especially important for our young and growing athletes. Baseball and tennis players should give themselves a break from throwing or competing after their season ends. Runners can hop on a bike or elliptical every once in a while to avoid injury as well. There are many ways to avoid overuse injuries so if you think you may be prone to them, feel free to ask any expert on our Team and we’ll be happy to help you stay on the court, field, or track!

Frank J. Alexander, Jr., M.S., ATC, is a Physician Extender to Dr. Christopher Ahmad, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at Columbia University Medical Center.

Tagged With: Baseball Health Network, Little League Elbow, Little League Shoulder, overuse injuries, Team Ahmad, Youth Baseball

BHN’s Steve Hayward To Be Featured Speaker At Columbia Sports Medicine Live Webinar

By Jim Monaghan
Baseball Health Network

Jim Monaghan

 

 

 

 

JUST ANNOUNCED!

Baseball Health Network founder Steve Hayward will be a featured guest speaker at a live webinar on Wednesday July 12 presented by Columbia Sports Medicine.

The Baseball Athlete: Myths & Truths that Every Physician, Athletic Trainer, Therapist, Strength and Pitching Coach Should Know in 2017 will be of interest to team physicians, certified athletic trainers, physical therapists and primary care sports medicine physicians.

Steve Hayward photo
BHN Founder Steve Hayward

Participation in recreational and organized sports is on the rise. With that comes increased pressure to get athletes back to their sport as quickly and safely as possible. This webinar will highlight important topics in sports medicine that are experienced at the highest levels on a daily basis.

The management of athletic injuries is under constant debate, often needing to decide between conservative and surgical intervention. Good judgment on the part of the sports provider is vital as management decisions are usually tailored to the individual athlete. Optimal management of these injuries is essential to an athlete’s career. Understanding the etiology, diagnosis, surgical, and non-surgical modalities are the key elements of a successful treatment plan.

DATE – Wednesday, July 12, 2017
TIME – 8:00 PM

FACULTY & TOPICS:
T. Sean Lynch, MD
The Hips Don’t Lie…The Hip-Elbow Connection in the Throwing Athlete
Charles M. Jobin, MD
Labral & Rotator Cuff Tears: Why throwers have them and never need surgery?
Christopher S. Ahmad, MD
Startling Breakthroughs in Tommy John Treatment
A.J. Yenchak, DPT
Unlocking Your Throwing Performance Safely: Strategies to Enhance Core Strengthening and Maximize Hip Explosion
Joseph Ciccone, PT, DPT, SCS, CIMT, CSCS, ART
Hot Trends from the Major League Training Room that College and High School Players Need: The Toys that Work
Thomas S. Bottiglieri, DO
Biologic Treatments that Keep Players on the Field & Out of the Operating Room
Steve Hayward, Co-founder of the Baseball Health Network
A Pitching Coach’s Approach to Reducing Elbow Injuries

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

Tagged With: Baseball Health Network, Columbia Orthopedics, Dr. Christopher Ahmad, Steve Hayward

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