For Athletic Trainers working with throwing and overhead athletes, the Tommy John injury is familiar—but the decision-making around referral, surgery type, and long-term outcomes continues to evolve.
“Tommy John injuries have a greater than 90% success rate,” Dr. Camp explains, “but recovery takes a long time.”
While Dr. Camp sees UCL pathology across baseball, basketball, football, volleyball, tennis, swimming, and even gymnastics and wrestling, the classic patient remains the overhead thrower ages 16 to 30.
Pain, loss of control, declining velocity, and elbow instability are the hallmark indicators—and ATs are often the first to recognize when a chronic pattern has finally tipped toward structural failure. Diagnosis is usually quick, relying on history, physical exam, and imaging, though Dr. Camp notes that “at times the sports medicine specialist also needs to perform a stress ultrasound or a stress MRI.”
Where this becomes particularly meaningful for ATs is in understanding surgical options and their implications for return-to-play planning. Traditional reconstruction still requires 12+ months, a timetable that can significantly alter career trajectories.
Repair with internal bracing shortens that to 6–9 months, but Dr. Camp cautions it only applies to specific tear types and long-term durability remains under study.
His own innovation—anatomic MUCL reconstruction with an internal brace—combines stability with earlier return. Pitchers often resume competition in 9–10 months, and Dr. Camp reported:
“97% of athletes… return to sport, and 90%… reach the same level of play.”
Rehabilitation remains complex.
“With Tommy John surgery, the rehabilitation process is complex and not very well understood,” he says—making coordinated care with ATs essential from early motion to late-stage throwing progressions.
For ATs supporting throwing and overhead athletes, Dr. Camp’s message is clear: the injury may be familiar, but today’s treatment landscape is rapidly changing—and collaboration is key to safeguarding careers. Read the full story here!