Dr. Leon E. Popovitz, NYC Shoulder Arthroscopy Expert, Analyzes Post-Operative Performance after Labral Repair

NEW YORK, Aug. 28, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Yankees' pitcher Michael Pineda recently returned from the disabled list and had a less than impressive outing for the Yankees. His performance since he returned from an arthroscopic labral repair in his shoulder has been below his common pre-surgical level.

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While Dr. Leon E. Popovitz did not perform Pineda's surgery, he comments that this is a common issue with professional throwing athletes after arthroscopic labral repairs. In fact, in published studies reviewing the outcomes for shoulder SLAP (labral) repairs, it was found that SLAP repairs have excellent outcomes for non-professional, non-throwing, athletes but results are much less predictable for elite throwing athletes. The study found that about 2 out of 3 high level throwing athletes were able to get back to the same level. Moreover, if there is, in addition to the labral tear, some partial tearing of the rotator cuff then the results are even slightly worse.

Essentially, if you are not an elite, high-level throwing athlete, then you can expect excellent results after a labral repair. Unfortunately, if you are a high-level throwing athlete, such as a professional pitcher, then there is a chance you will not be able to return to that same level of performance as prior to the injury.

Professional pitchers have an intangible that simple anatomy cannot explain. There is no clear explanation why someone has the gift of being able to throw a ball 95 miles per hour. Therefore, when there is a serious injury, simply repairing the tear (no matter how perfectly repaired it is) may not fully bring back that extraordinary gift.

In the case of Michael Pineda, he often shows moments of brilliance on the mound and sometimes his performances have been less than expected. Whether his extraordinary gift fully and consistently returns remains to be seen.

About NY Bone and Joint Specialists 

Dr. Leon Popovitz is top orthopedic surgeon and co-owner of NY Bone and Joint Specialists, a best in class, private Orthopedic and Sports Medicine practice in New York City. The Orthopedic Surgery, Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, and Pain Management Specialists routinely perform surgical and non-surgical treatments for professional athletes from across the United States and other countries. Dr. Popovitz and his team are known for their exemplary surgical skill and best-rated treatment plans, along with their top, in-office physical therapy and long term sports rehabilitation processes that return athletes of all levels to their top physical potential. Dr. Popovitz is a highly esteemed expert of orthopedic shoulder arthroscopy, having experience with routine arthroscopic surgeries as well as helping professional athletes repair complex shoulder injuries.

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SOURCE Dr. Leon E. Popovitz, MD