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safepitching4youth.com Resources for Developing Pitchers |
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    Elbow Injuries - Types Medial Collateral Ligament Tear (Tommy John Injury) The following is taken from: www.safethrow.com. Author: Charles Metzger, M.D., Greater Houston Orthopedic Specialists  The elbow contains several ligaments that connect the upper arm bone (humerus), the large forearm bone on the opposite side of the thumb (ulna) and the smaller forearm bone on the same side as the thumb (radius). See the elbow anatomy page for diagrams and videos of the elbow's bones, muscles and ligaments. The two most important ligaments are the medial/ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) and the lateral collateral ligament (LCL). The UCL is on the inside part of the elbow and the LCL is on the outside part of the elbow. As you can see in the far right diagram, the UCL forms a triangular shape. It has an anterior bundle, posterior bundle, and a thinner, transverse ligament (see diagram).
The UCL and LCL ligaments connect the humerus to the ulna and are the main source of stability for the elbow. The UCL can be damaged by the stress placed on it in throwing a baseball, especially through overuse. If a pitcher throws with poor mechanics, tries to throw too hard, or throws too much, the ligament can tear. If an injury occurs, the pitcher will either feel a "pop" during the throwing motion (usually in the late cockingphase) or aching on the inner side that gets worse over time. If the elbow "pops", the pitcher will experience a sharp pain on the inner side of the elbow along with the complete inability to throw. There might also be swelling on the inside of the elbow. Helpful Resources
Related Links SafeThrow - Medial Collateral Ligament Tear (Tommy John Injury)
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