How many Tommy John surgeries does it take to prevent further surgery? An article that appeared in the San Diego Union Tribune on September 17, 2015 stated that Josh Johnson will undergo surgery again. It will be his third Tommy John surgery!
Because it will be his third surgery it appears to indicate that the team has not been able to determine what is causing the problem. Is it in his arm, elbow and hand movements? Is the problem in lack of strength and flexibility? Is it specific to any one action, muscle or joint?
Answers to all of these questions can be determined by someone who has a strong background in sports skill technique biomechanics. In addition it requires someone who has a strong background in muscle function and exercise specificity to strengthen the muscles and learn effective technique at the same time.
These concepts for pinpointing the cause of injury and how Tommy John surgeries can be prevented are relatively new. They are the end result of deep study of sports technique and biomechanical and kinesiological analyses of the technique. Sadly, the training of such specialists has not found a stronghold in universities that teach coaches.
As a result we will most likely continue to see more pitchers getting more Tommy John surgeries. This is a tremendous waste of human talent and potential, in addition to the high medical costs.
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