[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2020\/01\/ucl-injury\/#Article","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2020\/01\/ucl-injury\/","headline":"UCL Injury? You May Need Tommy John Surgery","name":"UCL Injury? You May Need Tommy John Surgery","description":"Learn the symptoms of a UCL injury and tips to prevent one, so you can avoid needing UCL reconstruction \u2014 also known as Tommy John surgery.","datePublished":"2020-01-27","dateModified":"2020-01-27","author":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/services\/sports-medicine-regions","name":"Sports Medicine","url":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/services\/sports-medicine-regions","sameAs":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/sports-medicine\/","parentOrganization":"UPMC"},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"UPMC HealthBeat","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","width":600,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/uclinjury_blg.jpg","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/uclinjury_blg.jpg","height":1333,"width":2000},"url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2020\/01\/ucl-injury\/","about":["Health Topics A-Z","Sports Medicine"],"wordCount":489,"keywords":["tommy john surgery","ucl injury","ucl injury symptoms"],"articleBody":"Did you know that you can throw out your elbow? Injury of the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL), a band of connective tissue in the elbow, is the most common type of ligament injury among throwing athletes, according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. And an Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine study shows that UCL injuries are increasingly more common.If you play baseball, softball, or another throwing sport, it’s important to know the symptoms of a UCL injury and how to prevent it. If you damage your UCL, you might need ligament reconstruction. That procedure, known as Tommy John surgery, was first performed on Dodgers pitcher Thomas Edward John Jr., in 1974. Since then, more than 500 Major League Baseball players have undergone Tommy John (TJ) surgery.UCL Injury SymptomsUCL injuries occur over time and are most commonly caused by the repetitive stress of the \u00a0throwing or pitching motion. However, it’s also possible to injure the UCL through a single event or trauma.The repeated and substantial force that involves pitching slowly stretches the UCL, breaking down and sometimes tearing the tissue. This inflammation causes symptoms to worsen over time.Symptoms of UCL injuries include:Decreased throwing or pitching speedPain on the inside of the elbowA loose or unstable feeling in the elbowNumbness in the pinkie and\/or ring fingerIn the case of an acute, traumatic UCL injury, you may also hear or feel a \u201cpop.\u201dPreventing UCL InjuriesBy far, pitchers are most at risk for this type of injury. But elbow injuries don’t have to be inevitable, even if you are a pitcher. Experts at the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine say that to prevent UCL injuries, athletes should learn proper throwing techniques from a professional. They also recommend instituting maximum pitch counts, enforcing required rest periods, avoiding pitching on consecutive days, and warming up with easy throws.Tommy John SurgeryDuring a Tommy John procedure, a surgeon attaches a tendon to serve as a reconstructed UCL. This tendon is either harvested from another part of the body or from a tissue donor. The purpose of the surgery is to stabilize the joint, reduce or eliminate discomfort, and restore function.Recovery time depends on many factors. Non-pitchers can expect to be back in the game about nine months after the procedure, but pitchers need at least 12 months before they recover full range of motion and functionality. Recovery for some players has taken up to two years. The good news is that after surgery, you can immediately start physical therapy for the fingers, hand, and shoulder.To learn more injury prevention strategies, visit UPMC Sports Medicine or make an appointment by calling 1-855-937-7678.SourcesAmerican Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine. Preventing Baseball Injuries.  National Institutes of Health. Incidence of Elbow Ulnar Collateral Ligament Surgery in Collegiate Baseball Players.  American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Elbow Injuries in the Throwing Athlete.  "},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"2020","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2020\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"01","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2020\/\/01\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"UCL Injury? You May Need Tommy John Surgery","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2020\/01\/ucl-injury\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]