When a pitcher makes their usual throwing motion, it puts valgus stress on the arm--their elbow bends in a direction the body isn’t intended to go. With the velocity and force that a major league pitcher has behind each of their pitches, that stress on the body rises to levels where the forearm wants to flee the body. The reason it doesn’t is because of a small connection of ligaments. Once they snap after years of stress, they require reconstructive surgery that entails a lengthy rehabilitation stint. And that is, in short, is Tommy John surgery. That’s just one incredibly interesting fact into Tommy John conducted by ESPN for its May report. Another stunning fact you may not know is that the force a pitcher’s elbow has on their elbow during a pitch is around .03 seconds. If a human had to face this for a minute, they’d be dead. But what might be most surprising is that the ulnar collateral ligament damage that necessitates Tommy John surgery …show more content…
Now, physicians urge for “6 months on, 6 months off” types of strategies that ensures ample rest for the athlete during the offseason. This may prevent them from attending every summer camp and tryout, but it is highly likely that this will preserve their arm. It is a risk that the player and their family must decide. When a potentially lucrative contract could be in grasp, how do you turn that down? How can you tell a budding prospect to tone down the force behind their pitches? That’s why some are willing to overuse their arm, or force the issue early and get Tommy John at a younger age. On the Major League level, the trend is rising as well. ESPN notes that The Hardball Times writer Jon Roegele tracked the trend over the years and noted that 31 major leaguers accounted for the 101 professionals to undergo the surgery last year. Surprisingly, that is 50 percent more than 2013’s