Sports Medicine Chandler, AZ
(480) 543-6700
1125 South Alma School Road
Suite 210
Chandler, AZ 85286
Monday - Friday | 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
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Athletic activity places unique demands on the shoulder, elbow, and upper extremity. Throwing, lifting, gripping, and overhead motions all generate high forces that can lead to injury. When these injuries occur, they can take athletes out of their sport and limit even the most basic daily tasks.
Dr. Ryan Neeley specializes in sports medicine surgery of the shoulder and elbow. His practice combines a precise diagnostic approach with evidence-based treatment, helping patients return to sport, work, and active living.
Anatomy of the Shoulder & Elbow
Sports-related injuries often involve the stabilizing structures of the upper extremity. The shoulder relies on the rotator cuff, labrum, and biceps tendon to maintain stability during overhead movements. The elbow depends on the ulnar collateral ligament, flexor–pronator mass, and distal biceps for strength and support during throwing and lifting. When these structures are injured, performance declines, pain increases, and function can be severely limited.
Shoulder Sports Injuries
Labral Tears and Instability
Labral tears are common in throwing athletes, where repetitive overhead motions place stress on the rim of cartilage that deepens the shoulder socket. Patients may feel catching, slipping, or weakness, particularly during throwing or lifting.
Rehabilitation focuses on strengthening and mechanics, though surgery is often required for recurrent instability. Recovery may take six months or longer, especially for athletes returning to high-level sport.
Rotator Cuff Injuries
Repetitive overhead use can inflame or tear the rotator cuff tendons. Symptoms include pain during motion, difficulty lifting, and weakness with throwing or serving.
Nonoperative management with therapy and rest is effective in many athletes, but surgical repair may be required for significant tears. Recovery varies but often involves six to twelve months before return to competition.
Biceps Tendon Injuries
Athletes may experience irritation or partial tearing of the long head of the biceps tendon, especially with repetitive overhead activity. This causes pain at the front of the shoulder and weakness with lifting.
Rest, physical therapy, and anti-inflammatory treatments are the first steps, while surgical repair or tenodesis is considered if pain or weakness persists. Most athletes return to sport within several months after treatment.
Elbow Sports Injuries
Ulnar Collateral Ligament (UCL) Injury
Known widely in baseball pitchers, UCL injury results from repetitive valgus stress on the elbow. Patients often report pain on the inner side of the elbow and a loss of throwing velocity.
Early treatment involves rest and structured rehabilitation, but high-level athletes frequently need UCL reconstruction. Recovery from reconstruction, commonly called Tommy John surgery, takes nine months to a year before return to full throwing.
Distal Biceps Tendon Rupture
Athletes who lift or pull against heavy resistance may rupture the distal biceps tendon. This leads to sudden pain, bruising, and loss of strength in elbow flexion and forearm rotation.
Surgical repair is the standard treatment for active individuals, with recovery involving several months of progressive rehabilitation before return to sport.
Medial and Lateral Epicondylitis
Repetitive gripping, throwing, or lifting can cause inflammation at the tendons attached to the elbow. Tennis elbow affects the outside of the joint, while golfer’s elbow affects the inside. Symptoms include pain, tenderness, and weakness with gripping or lifting.
Nonoperative care is usually successful, with rest, therapy, and gradual return to sport. Recovery may take several months, but most athletes return to full activity.
Nonoperative Management
Nonoperative care is the first step for most sports-related upper extremity conditions. Activity modification, rest, anti-inflammatory medication, and targeted physical therapy all play a role in recovery. Bracing or taping may support healing, and injections can help control pain. With adherence to rehabilitation, many athletes return to sport without the need for surgery.
Indications for Surgery
Surgical treatment is indicated when structural damage prevents return to function, or when nonoperative care has failed. This includes recurrent shoulder instability, complete tendon ruptures, and high-grade ligament injuries in throwing athletes. Surgical decision-making is tailored to the patient’s sport, level of competition, and recovery goals.
Surgical Options
Shoulder Surgical Options
Arthroscopic labrum repair and stabilization for instability
Rotator cuff repair for symptomatic tendon tears
Biceps tendon repair or tenodesis for persistent pain or weakness
Elbow Surgical Options
- Ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) reconstruction (Tommy John surgery) for throwing athletes with complete ligament injury
- Distal biceps tendon repair to restore strength and forearm rotation
- Arthroscopic procedures for loose bodies or degenerative changes causing pain and stiffness
Treatment & Recovery
Sports medicine treatment emphasizes safe and timely return to activity. Recovery timelines vary by injury and procedure. For nonoperative care, athletes can often return to sport within weeks to months once pain resolves and strength is restored.
For surgical cases, rehabilitation progresses through protection, mobility, strengthening, and sport-specific training. Full recovery may range from four months after minor procedures to a year after ligament reconstruction or rotator cuff repair. With proper treatment and guided rehabilitation, most athletes successfully return to their sport.
Upper extremity sports injuries can be frustrating, but modern treatment provides paths to recovery. Dr. Neeley delivers advanced care for shoulder and elbow sports conditions, combining surgical expertise with a patient-centered approach focused on education, performance, and safe return to play.