The Sports Docs Podcast

In this episode of The Sports Docs Podcast, Dr. Ashley Bassett and Dr. Catherine Logan sit down LIVE from the Arthrex Team Physician Controversies with Stephania Bell to discuss the evolving role of sports injuries in modern media coverage.As a licensed physical therapist and leading injury analyst for ESPN, Stephania shares how fantasy football, sports betting, visual technology, and audience demand have transformed injuries from simple status updates into complex, high-interest storylines centered around athlete performance, recovery, and long-term health.We'll chat about:How Fantasy Football transformed injuries into weekly decision-making currency Fans now want: Probability of performance  Risk assessment  Recovery expectations  Long-term outlook Fantasy Football Changed Injury CoverageSports media shifted from reporting diagnoses to explaining performance implicationsChanging the Media NarrativeEarly injury reporting was binary: Playing vs not playing Modern injury coverage focuses on: Function  Limitation  Risk  Performance impact The Power of Medical AnimationsVisual tools help bridge medicine and storytellingBenefits of animations: Improve anatomy understanding  Explain biomechanics and injury mechanisms  Clarify recovery expectations  Translate complex medicine for broad audiences Notable NFL Injury CoverageJoe Burrow Turf toe and wrist injury breakdowns highlighted how subtle injuries impact quarterback mechanics  Visual animations helped explain throwing wrist ligament injuries and recovery Brock Purdy Turf toe animations demonstrated the functional impact on movement and push-off mechanics Patrick Mahomes Discussions emphasized how injury location and position-specific demands alter performance expectations The Future of Injury CoverageCoverage is becoming more nuanced around: Load management  Athlete longevity  Cumulative wear and tear  Concussion awareness  Recovery strategy Common Injury MisconceptionsPlaying ≠ fully healthy Recovery timelines are ranges—not exact dates MRI findings are only one piece of the puzzle Position matters enormously when evaluating injury impactFeatured GuestStephania Bell – Licensed Physical Therapist, ESPN NFL Injury Analyst, Co-host of Fantasy Focus Football🎧 Listen & SubscribeIf you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, rate, and review on:Apple PodcastsSpotifyFollow us on InstagramArthrex Team Physician Controversies 2026Our Hosts:Ashley Bassett, MD & Catherine Logan, MD, MBA / www.cosportsmedicine.com 

In this episode of The Sports Docs Podcast, Dr. Ashley Bassett and Dr. Catherine Logan sit down LIVE from the Arthrex Team Physician Controversies with orthobiologics expert Dr. Spencer Stein to discuss the real-world application of bone marrow concentrate (BMAC) in sports medicine.The conversation focuses on how to effectively integrate orthobiologics into clinical and surgical practice, with a deep dive into the ANGEL System and Vortex Needle, emphasizing consistency, technique, and appropriate patient selection.Where BMAC Fits in PracticeCommon applications: Cartilage restoration procedures  Tendon and ligament pathology  Nonunions and osteotomies  Osteochondral and revision cases Why Bone Marrow Concentrate?Delivers: Progenitor cells  Growth factors  Cytokines Particularly useful in: Borderline surgical candidates  Revision cases  Biologically compromised environments The ANGEL SystemClosed, automated centrifuge systemAllows customization of hematocrit and final productBenefits: Consistency and reproducibility  Ability to “dial in” biologic composition  Reduced variability in outcomes The Vortex NeedleDesigned for controlled, low-volume aspirationAdvantages: Minimizes peripheral blood dilution  Improves cell concentration and biologic quality  More targeted aspiration technique Closed-tip design: Better consistency  Higher quality aspirate Pearls: Focus on proper aspiration technique  Use small-volume, targeted draws  Integrate BMAC early in surgical workflow  Train your team for efficiency Pitfalls: Poor aspirate technique  Overpromising outcomes to patients  Treating biologics as a cure-all Future of OrthobiologicsMoving toward: Indication-specific protocols  Standardized biologic formulations  More targeted applications by tissue type Featured GuestDr. Spencer Stein – NYU Grossman School of Medicine, sports medicine surgeon specializing in arthroscopy and joint preservation🎧 Listen & SubscribeIf you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, rate, and review on:Apple PodcastsSpotifyFollow us on InstagramArthrex Team Physician Controversies 2026Our Hosts:Ashley Bassett, MD & Catherine Logan, MD, MBA / www.cosportsmedicine.com 

In this The Sports Docs Podcast episode, Dr. Ashley Bassett and Dr. Catherine Logan sit down with foot and ankle experts Dr. David Pedowitz and Dr. Josh Metzl.From evolving surgical techniques to implant innovation and accelerated return-to-play timelines, this conversation highlights how modern approaches are reshaping outcomes for high-level athletes.Achilles Tendon InjuriesWho Needs Surgery? Best suited for young, active athletes, especially in explosive or cutting sports  While nonoperative care has improved: Tendon elongation remains a key concern Push-off strength deficits can impact performance  Surgical repair offers:  Faster strength recovery  More predictable return to sport Evolution of Surgical Technique Shift from open surgery → minimally invasive (MIS) and percutaneous approaches Benefits:  ↓ wound complications  Improved cosmesis  Faster rehabilitation Double-row fixation restores native footprint and improves gap resistance PARS Technique (Percutaneous Achilles Repair System) Combines precision of open repair with less soft tissue disruption Key features:  Small incision with percutaneous suture passage  Reproducible jig-guided technique  Strong, locking suture construct  Ideal for acute midsubstance rupturesPearls: Master jig orientation before live cases  Maintain tension during suture passage  Protect the sural nervePitfalls: Incisions too small → poor visualization  Overtensioning the repair Repair Constructs: PARS vs SpeedBridgeSpeedBridge (double-row, knotless):  ↓ tendon elongation  Strong biomechanical construct  Slight ↑ risk of heel pain PARS:  Less invasive  Lower wound complication rates Insertional Achilles Pathology Typically treated with open or MIS SpeedBridge techniques MIS FiberTak SpeedBridge advantages:  Smaller incisions  Less implant material  Strong fixation with rip-stop construct Supports early weight-bearing and mobilizationReturn to Play90% return to sport after surgery Typical timeline: Running: progressive, athlete-specific Full return: ~6–9 months 🎧 Listen & SubscribeIf you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, rate, and review on:Apple PodcastsSpotifyFollow us on Instagram Arthrex Team Physician Controversies 2026Our Hosts:Ashley Bassett, MD & Catherine Logan, MD, MBA / www.cosportsmedicine.com 

In this episode of The Sports Docs Podcast, Dr. Bassett & Dr. Logan sit down LIVE from the Arthrex Team Physician Controversies with shoulder instability expert Dr. Kevin Farmer to discuss the modern management of traumatic anterior shoulder instability in athletes.The conversation focuses on the instability continuum, including when to operate, how to evaluate bipolar bone loss, and when to add remplissage, with an emphasis on optimizing outcomes in young, high-risk athletes.Who Needs Surgery?Young athletes—especially males less than 20—have 70–80% recurrence rates with nonoperative careHigher risk populations:Collision athletesOverhead athletesMilitary/tactical athletesKey insight:Early surgical stabilization can be career-protective in high-risk athletesMRI evaluates:Bankart lesionsHill-Sachs size and orientationCapsulolabral qualityAdvanced assessment includes:Percent glenoid bone lossHill-Sachs engagementOn-track vs off-track lesionsArthroscopic Bankart RepairRemains the workhorse procedure in absence of critical bone lossModern advances:Knotless anchorsImproved efficiency and reproducibilityBetter capsular tensioningAnchor strategy:Typically 3–4 anchorsStart low (5:30–6 o’clock) and work superiorlyFewer than 3 anchors associated with higher failure ratesCapsular ManagementCapsular shift is critical in:Young patientsHyperlax athletesGoal:Restore anterior stabilityRe-tension IGHL complexKnotless technology allows fine-tuned tensioningRemplissageTraditionally used for off-track Hill-Sachs lesionsNow increasingly used in:Subcritical glenoid bone loss (~10–15%)High-risk athletesBorderline “on-track” lesionsBenefits:Decreases recurrence ratesReduces need for revision surgeryKey insight:Low threshold in young, male contact athletesRemplissage TechniqueTwo anchors placed in Hill-Sachs lesionSutures passed through capsule and infraspinatusSecured in subdeltoid spacePearls:Use knotless anchors for low-profile fixationVisualize subacromial space to avoid soft tissue captureMotion vs StabilityConcern: loss of external rotationReality:Minimal, clinically insignificant loss with modern techniquesStability benefits outweigh small motion tradeoffsPostoperative RehabSling: 3–4 weeksEarly passive motionStrengthening at 6 weeksReturn to sport: ~5–6 monthsReturn to Sport TestingCriteria-based return reduces recurrence (5% vs 22%)Key components:Full ROMGreater/equal to 90% strength vs contralateral sideFunctional testing (CKCUEST, shot-put, plank taps, etc.)Patient-reported outcomes (WOSI greater than 90%, KJOC greater than 88%)Featured GuestDr. Kevin Farmer – University of Florida, Team Physician for the Florida Gators🎤 Stay ConnectedIf you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, rate, and review on:Apple PodcastsSpotifyFollow us on Instagram Arthrex Team Physician Controversies 2026Our Hosts:Ashley Bassett, MD & Catherine Logan, MD, MBA / www.cosportsmedicine.com 

Live from the Arthrex Team Physician Controversies ConferenceIn this episode of The Sports Docs Podcast, Dr. Ashley Bassett and Dr. Catherine Logan sit down LIVE from the Arthrex Team Physician Controversies with two leading ACL experts—Dr. Pat Smith and Dr. Aaron Krych—to discuss strategies to reduce failure after ACL reconstruction.The conversation highlights the evolution of ACL surgery, focusing on graft selection, fixation, biologic augmentation, and mechanical protection, with an emphasis on optimizing outcomes in young, high-risk athletes.Graft: Autograft vs AllograftStrong evidence shows higher failure rates with allograft in young athletes MOON data: ~4–6x increased risk of failure in patients <25 years Allograft best for: Older, lower-demand patients  Revision or multi-ligament cases Autograft SelectionGraft choice depends on: Age, sex, sport, and anatomy BTB: Preferred for high-level pivoting athletes  Strong fixation, less graft elongation Quadriceps tendon: Increasingly utilized  Larger graft diameter  Less donor-site morbidity vs BTB  Particularly useful in younger and female athletes Key insight: Grafts <8 mm are associated with higher failure riskInternal Brace (IB)Indications: Young athletes  Hyperlax patients  Revision ACL Benefits: Decreased graft elongation and cyclic displacement  Reduced postoperative laxity  Lower rerupture rates (~1% at 5 years in some studies)  Faster return to sport and improved rehab confidence Lateral Extra-Articular Tenodesis (LET)Strong evidence supports reduced failure rates: Primary ACLR: ~11% → 4% (high-risk patients)  Revision ACLR: ~21% → 5% Benefits: Decreased pivot shift  Improved return to pre-injury sport  Cost-effective in high-risk populations Indications for LET Age ≤25 years  High-grade pivot shift  Knee hyperextension  Return to cutting/pivoting sports  Revision ACL reconstruction LET Surgical Technique PearlsIT band graft (7–8 cm x 1 cm) Passed under or near LCL depending on technique Fixation near lateral epicondylePearls: Fix in neutral rotation and ~30–60° flexion  Avoid overconstraint  Close IT band defect Featured GuestsDr. Pat Smith – Hospital for Special Surgery NaplesDr. Aaron Krych – Mayo Clinic, Team Physician for the Minnesota TimberwolvesStay ConnectedApple PodcastsSpotifyYouTubeFollow us on Instagram for more insights on cutting-edge sports medicine, athlete recovery, and performancehttps://www.instagram.com/thesportsdocspod/Our Hosts:Catherine Logan, MD, MBAhttps://www.cloganmd.com/Ashley Bassett, MDhttps://orthopedicnj.com/physicians/ashley-bassettwww.thesportsdocspod.com

Live from the Arthrex Team Physician Controversies Conference🎧 Episode SummaryIn this episode of The Sports Docs Podcast, Dr. Ashley Bassett and Dr. Catherine Logan sit down LIVE from the Arthrex Team Physician Controversies with cartilage restoration expert Dr. Travis Maak to discuss the modern surgical management of knee cartilage defects.The conversation focuses on diagnostic workup, surgical decision-making, and cutting-edge cartilage restoration techniques, including Autocart, BioCartilage, and Cartiform.Diagnostic Imaging - MRI is critical for: Defect size and depth  Subchondral bone integrity and edema  Concomitant meniscal and ligament pathologySurgical Decision-Making Patient age & activity level  Lesion size, location, & containment  Subchondral bone involvement  Prior surgical historyAutocart (Autologous Minced Cartilage)Single-stage autograft cartilage restoration techniqueUses patient’s own cartilage with PRP or BMACKey advantages: Preserves native chondrocytes & extracellular matrix  Avoids staged procedures Ideal for small-to-medium contained lesionsOutcomes: Significant improvements in pain & function at ~5 years  ~75% achieve clinically meaningful outcomes  Low reoperation rates BioCartilageMicronized cartilage extracellular matrix allograft scaffoldUsed in combination with microfracture and biologics (PRP/BMAC)Functions as a biologic bridge to enhance cartilage repairBest for: Small-to-medium, contained, full-thickness defects  Well-aligned, stable knees Outcomes: Improved pain and function at 2 years  Better repair tissue quality compared to microfracture alone CartiformCryopreserved osteochondral allograft with viable chondrocytes Maintains native cartilage architectureIndicated for: Larger lesions (>2 cm²)  Defects with subchondral bone involvement Advantages: Single-stage procedure  Conforms to irregular defects Key TakeawaysCartilage restoration success depends on correcting biomechanics first Procedure selection should be lesion-specific and patient-specific Autocart offers a promising autograft solution with strong midterm data BioCartilage fills the gap between microfracture and larger restoration procedures Cartiform is a valuable option for larger defects and requires careful patient selectionFeatured GuestDr. Travis Maak – University of Utah, Head Team Physician for the Utah Jazz, cartilage restoration and joint preservation specialist🎤 Stay ConnectedIf you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, rate, and review on:Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | YouTubeFollow us on Instagram 

Modern Surgical Management of Elbow UCL TearsLive from the Arthrex Team Physician Controversies  🎧 Episode SummaryIn this episode of The Sports Docs Podcast, Dr. Ashley Bassett and Dr. Catherine Logan sit down LIVE from the Arthrex Team Physician Controversies with two leaders in sports medicine—Dr. Neal ElAttrache and Dr. Jeffrey Dugas—to discuss the modern management of ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) injuries in throwing athletes.HighlightsChanging UCL Injury Landscape Increasing incidence of UCL injuries and surgeries across all levels of play  Notable rise in adolescent and collegiate pitchers Contributing factors include year-round play and high pitch velocity Nonoperative Management & Role of PRP Nonoperative treatment remains appropriate for select partial tears  Success varies based on tear grade and locationPRP discussed as an adjunct to rehabIndications for Surgery Complete tears—especially in competitive throwers—often require surgical intervention  Tear characteristics (location, tissue quality, chronicity) are critical in decision-making UCL Repair with Internal Brace Increasingly utilized in appropriately selected patients Ideal candidates:  Acute injuries  Proximal or distal avulsion tears  Good tissue quality  Advantages:  High return-to-play (~90%+) Accelerated recovery timelines (often several months faster) UCL Reconstruction (Tommy John Surgery) Remains the gold standard for:  Chronic degeneration  Midsubstance tears  Revision cases  Techniques have evolved over time:  Docking technique  Figure-of-eight  Newer fixation methods (e.g., cortical button techniques)  Autograft (commonly palmaris longus) remains preferred in elite throwers Internal Brace Technology Provides added stability and resistance to valgus stress  Supports early rehabilitation while protecting healing tissue  Increasing use in both repair and, selectively, reconstruction Key Takeaways UCL injuries are increasing, particularly in younger athletes  Treatment decisions are increasingly personalized based on tear type and athlete profile UCL repair with Internal Brace is shifting the paradigm for select patients  Reconstruction remains essential for more complex or chronic injuries Featured GuestsDr. Neal ElAttrache – Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic Clinic, Head Team Physician for the LA Dodgers & LA Rams Dr. Jeffrey Dugas – Andrews Sports Medicine & Orthopaedic Center, leading expert in UCL repair and reconstruction 🎤 Stay ConnectedIf you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, rate, and review on:Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | YouTubeFollow us on Instagram 

Live from the 10th Annual Arthrex Team Physician Controversies Conference 🎧 Episode OverviewIn this episode of The Sports Docs Podcast, Dr. Ashley Bassett and Dr. Catherine Logan sit down LIVE from the Arthrex Team Physician Controversies Conference to explore how next-generation arthroscopic imaging is transforming the way orthopaedic surgeons diagnose and treat injuries.Joined by Dr. James Voos—Chairman of Orthopedics at University Hospitals and Head Team Physician for the Cleveland Browns—the conversation dives into the evolution of nano arthroscopy, panoramic visualization, and integrated imaging systems, and what these advancements mean for surgeons, athletes, and patient outcomes.What You’ll Learn1. The Evolution of Nano Arthroscopy From the original Arthrex NanoScope (2019) to NanoNeedle 2.0  Major leap in image resolution (400×400 → 720×720, near 4K)  Less invasive approach and improved patient experience 2. Seeing What Imaging Can Miss How in-office diagnostic arthroscopy is reducing reliance on equivocal MRI findings  Identifying subtle pathology:  Partial-thickness rotator cuff tears  Meniscal ramp lesions  Early chondral defects 3. The Power of Panoramic Visualization (Panoscope) Expanded field of view compared to traditional arthroscopy  Seamless transition between 30°, 70°, and ultra-wide 45° views  Reduced “blind spots” in complex anatomy4. Workflow & Efficiency in the OR How the Synergy Vision System integrates NanoNeedle + Panoscope  Dual-view capability for enhanced intraoperative decision-making  Improved efficiency 5. Adoption & Learning Curve Designed to be intuitive for surgeons  Importance of training and mentorship  Technology enhances decision-making without adding complexity Featured GuestDr. James Voos Chairman of Orthopedics, University Hospitals  Medical Director, UH Drusinsky Sports Medicine Institute  Head Team Physician, Cleveland Browns Stay ConnectedIf you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, rate, and review on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | YouTubeFollow us on Instagram for more insights on cutting-edge sports medicine, athlete recovery, and performance.

Welcome to another episode of Ask The Sports Docs. We get a lot questions from our listeners each week and they’re great questions, so rather than responding individually we thought we’d do these mini episodes where highlight some of the best questions and our responses. So, let’s get started!Today, we’re tackling the question: “Should I have surgery for my type III AC jointseparation?” If you are a sports medicine or shoulder surgeon, you’ve definitely had this conversation with your patients. And if you are an athlete, you’ve probably googled this after landing on your shoulder snowboarding, playing hockey, playing football etc. And the truth is – the answer isn’t black and white. But to try to answer that question, we’re going to review an article titled “Functional, Radiological, and Scapular Motion Evaluation of Surgical Versus Nonsurgical Treatment of Type 3 Acromioclavicular Dislocations.” This level 1 RCT aimed to compare the clinical outcomes of surgical and nonoperative treatment of type 3 AC separations.So, let's dive in!www.cloganmd.com / www.cosportsmedicine.com / https://orthopedicnj.com/physicians/ashley-bassett

Welcome to Overtime with the Sports Docs. On each of these mini episodes, we chat about a new article or new surgical technique in the field of sports medicine.We’ll give you our quick take on the most recent data and how this data will impact our practice. Today, we’re chatting about recurrent patellar instability, and specifically the risk of progressive cartilage damage in the setting of repeat patella dislocation events. We’re going to review an article from the August 2024 issue of AJSM titled: “The Number of Patellar Dislocation Events Is Associated With Increased Chondral Damage of the Trochlea.”This study uses data from the JUPITER cohort — which stands for: Justifying Patellar Instability Treatment by Early Results. The authors ask a clinically critical question: Does the number of dislocations matter when it comes to cartilage damage?www.cloganmd.com / www.cosportsmedicine.com / https://orthopedicnj.com/physicians/ashley-bassett

Welcome to another episode of Ask The Sports Docs. We get a lot questions from our listeners each week and they’re great questions, so rather than responding individually we thought we’d do these mini episodes where highlight some of the best questions and our responses. So, let’s get started!Today’s Ask The Sports Docs focuses on a question that we get asked a lot on the sideline, in locker rooms and by parents of our young contact sport athletes: Do you recommend the use of Guardian Caps to decrease the risk of concussion? If you have watched NFL training camp over the last few years, you’ve seen them – Those padded shells over the helmets. They’re everywhere now in preseason practices. But are they actually preventing concussions? Or are we just seeing a visible symbol of safety without meaningful impact? That is what we are going to tackle today. And to do that, we’re going to review a recent article published in the August 2025 issue of AJSM titled “An Analysis of Guardian Cap Use and Changes in the Concussion Rate in NFL Preseason Practices From 2018 to 2023.”Find us:www.thesportsdocspod.com / www.cloganmd.comhttps://orthopedicnj.com/physicians/ashley-bassett

Today, we’re diving into a paper that reviews the long-term outcomes following arthroscopic Bankart repair and challenges some of the historical narratives around this procedure.The study that we are reviewing today is titled “Long-term Outcomes of a Contemporary Arthroscopic Bankart Repair Technique in Patients With Traumatic Anterior Shoulder Instability: A Minimum 10-Year Follow-up.” This is a minimum 10-year follow-up study looking at modern arthroscopic Bankart techniques using at least three anchors — and it asks: Are recurrence rates still as high as we’ve been taught?

Welcome to another episode of Game Plan! It has been a while since we have done one of these Game Plan episodes so to quickly review: These episodes are specifically designed for patients. They are designed to hopefully answer some of the questions you have about the most common sports medicine conditions, injury prevention and treatment options.Today we’re talking about pickleball – the fastest growing sport in the United States. From 2019- 2021, the number of pickleball players increased from 3.3 to 4.8 million. The reason for the growth of the sport is likely multifactorial, including that it encompasses a wide variety of age ranges, it is easy to understand and it is inexpensive to play. However, with this steady growth has come a corresponding linear rise in pickleball injuries. And these injuries are not inexpensive, costing between 250 to 500 million dollars in 2023 alone.Pickleball is a paddle sport that takes aspects from tennis, badminton, and ping-pong. Now, we were going to try to explain the pickleball rules here, and how it differs from other racquet sports. But, USA Pickleball has a really nice 5-minute video on their website (usapickleball.org) that quickly summarizes the basic rules. If you are interested in learning more about this game, definitely check out their website. It should be noted that the rules and scoring system are currently variable. But as more competitions arise, more standardization to the game will likely follow, as is the trend with most sports.Today, we’re reviewing an article published in the November 2024 issue of the yellow journal titled “Pickleball: A Standard Review of Injury Prevalence and Prevention in a Rapidly Growing Sport.” This study compiled data from retrospective studies containing emergency department data and case reports of specific injuries sustained while playing pickleball. The authors also utilized a customized survey to capture outpatient data of current pickleball players seen in outpatient orthopedic facilities and at local pickleball events.www.cloganmd.com / www.cosportsmedicine.com / https://orthopedicnj.com/physicians/ashley-bassett

We get a lot questions from our listeners each week and they’re great questions,so rather than responding individually we thought we’d do these mini episodes where highlight some of the best questions and our responses. So, let’s get started! Today’s Ask The Sports Docs focuses on timing of ACL reconstruction surgery. Our patients, and their families, frequently ask… how long can I wait tohave the surgery? To answer that question, we’re going to review an article, hot off the press in this month’s issue of AJSM titled “Early ACL Reconstruction Mitigates the Development of Posttraumatic Osteoarthritis in a Murine ACL Rupture Model.” Dr. Julia Retzky and colleagues at HSS sought to answer the question:Does the timing of ACL reconstruction actually matter for long-term joint health?This is a timely paper because posttraumatic osteoarthritis or “PTOA” after ACL injury remains a massive unsolved problem. Even with modern reconstruction techniques, we’re still seeing 23 to 60% rates of PTOA at 10 to 25 years post-op. Historically, the literature on timing is all over the place. Some studies suggest early ACLR may reduce PTOA risk, others show no difference. The problem isheterogeneity—different grafts, definitions of “early,” imaging versus radiographic OA, meniscal status, you name it.And that’s where this paper is interesting. It strips away a lot of clinical confounders by using a controlled murine model (or mouse model) with a noninvasive closed ACL rupture, followed by either immediate reconstruction, delayed reconstruction, or no reconstruction. And importantly, this is the first murine study using a true intra-articular ACL reconstruction model, rather than extra-articular stabilization. So this mirrors what we do clinically, with a true anatomic ACL reconstruction.So, let's dive in...www.cloganmd.com / www.cosportsmedicine.com / https://orthopedicnj.com/physicians/ashley-bassett

Welcome to Overtime with the Sports Docs. On each of these mini episodes, Catherine and I chat about a new technique or treatment option in the field of sports medicine. We’ll give you our quick take on the most recent data and how this data will impact our practice.Today we’re tackling a topic that’s coming up more and more in clinic, locker rooms, and social media—injectable peptide therapy. Specifically, we’re going to walk through a recent AJSM narrative review by Mayfield and colleagues that serves as a primer for orthopaedic and sports medicine physicians.This is a great paper because it separates biologic plausibility from clinical reality. Patients are asking about BPC-157, TB-500, growth hormone–releasing peptides — often convinced these are regenerative breakthroughs — while the evidence base is still extremely limited. So, let's get started!Links:https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41476424/www.cloganmd.com https://orthopedicnj.com/physicians/ashley-bassett

Welcome to Overtime with the Sports Docs. On each of these mini episodes, we chat about a new article or new surgical technique in the field of sports medicine. We’ll give you our quick take on the most recent data and howthis data will impact our practice.Today, we’re talking about one of the hottest topics in sports medicine — platelet rich plasma for lateral epicondylitis. If you’ve ever wondered why PRP seems to work great for some patients… and not at all for others — this paper gives us a compelling answer.We’re reviewing an article from the January 2025 issue of AJSM titled “Platelet Concentration Explains Variability in Outcomes of Platelet-Rich Plasma for Lateral Epicondylitis.” The key takeaway from the systematic review and meta-analysis is that PRP isn’t one standard treatment. The dose matters and platelet concentration may explain most of the conflicting data we’ve seen over the years.www.cloganmd.com / www.cosportsmedicine.com / https://orthopedicnj.com/physicians/ashley-bassett

Today’s episode is going to focus on two common athletic shoulder injuries that we see in American football – traumatic anterior shoulder dislocations and acromioclavicular joint injuries. We’ll dive into the acute on-field management followed by treatment thereafter, including nonoperative and surgical treatment options. We are joined today by Dr. Kevin Farmer, a Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Florida, a team physician for the University of Florida gators and the editor of the “In-Season Management of Football Injuries” textbook. He is also a past president of the Florida Orthopaedic Society and the Florida Alliance for Sports Medicine, and a board member for AAOS and the Southern Orthopaedic Association. So, without further ado, let’s get to the Field House!www.cloganmd.com / www.cosportsmedicine.com / https://orthopedicnj.com/physicians/ashley-bassett

Our conversation picks back up with an article titled “Mental toughness in surgeons: Is there room for improvement?” This paper was published in the December 2019 issue of the Canadian Journal of Surgery and evaluates mental toughness among general surgery residents and staff surgeons using the Mental Toughness Index. The authors found that staff surgeons score significantly higher across all domains—including self-belief, attention and emotion regulation, optimism, buoyancy, and adversity capacity—than residents. Survey data from three Canadian academic centers showed that although both groups use some techniques to manage stress, staff rely on these strategies more frequently, and both residents and staff express strong interest in further developing mental toughness skills. The study also identifies gender differences, with men scoring higher in attention and emotion regulation. The authors highlight the lack of formal mental toughness training in surgical education despite evidence from athletics and paramilitary fields supporting structured psychological skills training. Then, from this month’s issue of the Journal of the Association for Surgical Education, we review an article titled “Do expert surgeons use mental skills to improve their surgical performance?” This study explores whether expert pancreaticoduodenectomy (Whipple) surgeons use mental skills during complex operations and how these strategies map onto known performance psychology frameworks. Through structured interviews with 15 internationally recognized high-volume surgeons, the authors found that all participants consistently employ cognitive techniques—including preoperative mental rehearsal, deep task focus, emotional regulation, maintaining situational awareness, and reframing unexpected events—to optimize performance under pressure. Surgeons described entering a “flow-like” state during critical steps, relying on deliberate calmness, structured routines, and controlled breathing to manage stress and maintain precision. These mental skills closely parallel those used in elite athletes and high-stakes professions, suggesting that expert surgical performance is supported not only by technical mastery but also by refined psychological strategies. The authors argue that mental skills training could be formally integrated into surgical education to help trainees develop the cognitive tools that expert surgeons intuitively use.www.cloganmd.com / www.cosportsmedicine.com / https://orthopedicnj.com/physicians/ashley-bassett  

On today’s episode we’re focusing on mindset skills, emotional regulation and mental toughness and feel that orthopedic surgery with Dr. Winston Gwathmey, an orthopedic surgeon at UVA. We start off our discussion today with an article from the September 2022 issue of the Journal of Surgical Research titled “Emotional Regulation in Surgery: Fostering Well-Being, Performance, and Leadership.” This article reviews the critical role of emotional regulation as a trainable cognitive skill that enhances surgical well-being, technical performance, and career longevity. It highlights how burnout and stress are pervasive in surgery and argues that individual-level emotional regulation training—paired with necessary system-level changes—can help surgeons cope with the inherent stressors of operative practice, complications, and high-stakes decision-making. Through multiple institutional case studies, the paper illustrates practical strategies for implementing emotional regulation curricula within surgical training, including mindfulness-based programs, mental skills training, and broader well-being initiatives. Across all examples, successful adoption hinges on leadership support, stakeholder buy-in, iterative design, and embedding training into existing educational infrastructure. Ultimately, the authors advocate for an integrated national curriculum that combines cognitive skills training, application to technical performance, and preparation for independent practice to promote surgeon resilience and sustainable careers.Then, from the July 2021 issue of the Journal of Surgical Research, we review an article titled “Mastering Stress: Mental Skills and Emotional Regulation for Surgical Performance and Life.” This article reviews how mental skills training and emotional regulation can enhance surgeons’ technical performance, well-being, and career longevity by mitigating the negative effects of stress. It explains the physiological and cognitive mechanisms of stress and highlights how chronic stress impairs decision-making and increases burnout. The authors present evidence that mindfulness, cognitive training, and mental rehearsal improve surgical skill acquisition, stress resilience, executive function, and performance under pressure. The authors go on to outline common elements of successful programs. They also discuss barriers to implementation and propose a framework for integrating mental skills training across surgical education from basic instruction to independent practice. They ultimately advocate for the development of a national mental skills curriculum to promote surgeon well-being, reduce errors, strengthen leadership and teamwork, and improve patient and systems-level outcomes.We are joined today by Dr. Winston Gwathmey, a board-certified orthopedic surgeon and a Professor of orthopedic surgery at the University of Virginia.  He is the Medical Director for the Sports Medicine Clinic at UVA and is also one of the team physicians for both UVA and James Madison University. Dr. Gwathmey is the Program Director for the Orthopedic Surgery Residency Program at UVA and is very passionate about educating the next generation of orthopedic surgeons.  He has won numerous teaching awards including the Mulholland Teaching award, the Charles W. Miller Resident Teaching award, and the Dean’s Award for Excellence in Medical Student Teaching. So, we’re very excited to have him on today to talk about this important topic. www.cloganmd.com / www.cosportsmedicine.com / https://orthopedicnj.com/physicians/ashley-bassett

2025 has been a year of real growth for our show! We’ve seen our listenership expand, our community of colleagues grow, and our impact reach more clinicians, athletes and sports medicine professionals than ever before. That only happens because of you—our listeners—who show up every week curious, engaged, and committed to elevating care in sports medicine.This year also brought a milestone we’re incredibly proud of: The Sports Docs Podcast has been nominated for Best Clinical Education Podcast at the Doctor Podcast Awards 2026. That recognition reflects the quality of the conversations we’ve had—and the incredible guests and community that make this podcast what it is.We’re deeply grateful for the partners who make this show possible. A huge thank you to JRF Ortho and Arthrex for their continued support, and we’re excited to have welcomed BraceLab as our newest sponsor. We’re also thankful for the ongoing support of AOSSM, whose commitment to education and excellence aligns perfectly with our mission. We even have some exciting new adventures scheduled for 2026... but you are going to wait on what that is for now.This episode is a look back at some of our favorite moments, insights, and conversations from 2025—episodes that challenged us, inspired us, and reminded us why we love this field so much. Whether you’ve been with us since day one or you’re just joining us now, thank you for being part of The Sports Docs community.Let’s dive into the moments that defined 2025—and set the stage for an even bigger year ahead.

Welcome to Overtime with the Sports Docs. On each of these mini episodes, Catherine and I chat about a new article or new surgical technique in the field of sports medicine. We’ll give you our quick take on the most recent data and how this data will impact our practice. Today, we’re breaking down a new study looking at the Hip–Return to Sport after Injury score, or Hip-RSI, and whether it can help us evaluate psychological readiness to return to sport after surgical repair of a proximal hamstring avulsion. This study is hot off the press and was published in the November 2025 issue of OJSM, so this month! It was performed by Hardy and colleagues at Clinique du in Paris and is titled “The Hip-RSI Score for Evaluating Psychological Readiness to Return to Sport After Surgical Repair of a Proximal Hamstring Avulsion.” Our listeners may know this score was originally developed for femoroacetabular impingement. But the authors of this recent OJSM paper are asking: Does it work for a totally different injury—one that often requires long rehab and has a real psychological component?So, a bit of background. The Hip-RSI was created because we know psychological readiness is a huge factor in return to sport after hip arthroscopy. Fear, confidence, trust in the hip—these really drive return-to-play outcomes. And with proximal hamstring avulsions, we see the same psychology showing up: fear of re-rupture, hesitancy with sprinting or explosive movements, and a long course to get back to high-level sport. The purpose of this study was to evaluate two big questions:1.     Is the Hip-RSI valid and reliable in this population?2.     Can it actually predict return to preinjury sport at nine months?Listen to this episode to find out!

Today we’re breaking down a common but sometimes career-altering knee injury in professional football – the meniscus tear. We’ll cover how often these happen in the NFL, how players present, what treatment choices look like, timelines for returning to play, and critically – how meniscal injury affects performance and career lengthBut first, a quick refresher: The menisci are two C-shaped fibrocartilage discs in each knee (medial and lateral) that help distribute load, absorb shock, and stabilize the joint. Losing meniscal tissue – through a tear and subsequent meniscectomy – changes knee biomechanics and increases contact stresses on articular cartilage, which can lead to earlier degenerative change. This biomechanical role is why meniscal management matters so much for athletes.So how common are meniscus tears in the NFL or NFL prospects? Well, that depends on what study you read and how that study chose to measure the prevalence of meniscus tears. Listen to this episode to get the full scoop on how these athletes perform in the setting of meniscus injury.Reference:Dr. Jorge Chahla (friend of the show) in 2018 in AJSM used MR imaging data to determine the prevalence of prior meniscal injury.  This study of approximately 2,000 NFL Scouting Combine participants from 2009–2015 found that 20% of players had a prior meniscus injury. So, this is the more frequently sided statistic.This study also went on to discuss the impact of partial meniscectomy on player performance and career length 

On each of these mini episodes, Catherine and I chat about a new article or new surgical technique in the field of sports medicine. We’ll give you our quick take on the most recent data and how this data will impact our practice. Today, we’re discussing a brand-new paper hot off the press titled: “Predictors of Tunnel Widening After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction” published in the November 2025 issue of AJSM. This study digs into why femoral and tibial tunnels enlarge after ACL reconstruction with hamstring grafts – and what anatomic and surgical factors might be driving it.Tunnel widening matters: it impacts revision surgery, graft stability, and in some cases early failures. So, this is a clinically meaningful topic. We will start with some background. Tunnel widening after ACL reconstruction is not new…but why it happens is debated. There are a few proposed mechanisms:·       Biologic factors: synovial fluid ingress, cytokines, graft necrosis, remodeling.·       Mechanical factors: graft motion (“windshield wiper” / “bungee effect”), repetitive shear.·       Anatomic factors: posterior tibial slope increasing anterior tibial translation forces.·       Surgical factors: fixation method, tunnel position, graft choice (hamstring vs BTB or Quad). This study asked three key questions:1.     Does posterior tibial slope (PTS) predict tunnel widening?2.     Do meniscus root tears contribute?3.     Does adding a lateral extra-articular tenodesis (LET) influence tunnel change? ·       This is the first large cohort looking at all these together over 2 years, with both tibial and femoral tunnel measurements. ·       The study included 307 patients who underwent primary ACL reconstruction using hamstring autograft. The femoral and tibial tunnels were measured immediately postop and again at 2 years.  Medial and lateral posterior tibial slope was measured on long-leg lateral radiographs.  The authors also looked at the incidence of additional LET, meniscus root injury and BMI.·       They used univariate and multivariate regression to determine independent predictors.So, what did they find? Tune in and enjoy the episode!

Our conversation picks back up with an article titled “Patient Outcomes and Return to Play After Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair in Overhead Athletes.”  This systematic review, published in the January 2023 issue of JOT, analyzed 20 studies comprising 692 patients with an average follow-up of 40 months.  The authors found that arthroscopic cuff repair led to significant improvements in patient reported outcomes as well as improved shoulder elevation. Overall, 75% of athletes returned to play at a mean of 6.4 months post-op, and 63% returned to their preinjury level of sport. Complication and reoperation rates were relatively low at 7% and 10%, respectively. Then, from the December 2019 issue of AJSM, we review an article titled “Partial-Thickness Rotator Cuff Tear by Itself Does Not Cause Shoulder Pain or Muscle Weakness in Baseball Players.”  This cross-sectional study investigated whether articular-sided partial-thickness rotator cuff tears alone produce symptoms in overhead athletes. Of the 87 collegiate baseball players that were analyzed, 47% had ultrasound-confirmed partial-thickness tears, yet rates of shoulder pain and muscle weakness were not significantly different from those without tears. Most of these tears were small (approximately 5 mm in depth) and were asymptomatic in 83%. Pain correlated instead with scapular malposition, dyskinesis, and poor total shoulder condition – not the presence of a tear. We finish up our discussion today with an article titled “Internal impingement of the shoulder in overhead athletes: Retrospective multicenter study in 135 arthroscopically-treated patients.” Patients underwent a variety of procedures, including cuff debridement or repair, posterior glenoidplasty, labral debridement, posterior capsular release, and anterior capsulorrhaphy. Overall, 90% returned to sports, with 52% returning to their prior level at an average of 9 months. Better return-to-sport outcomes were associated with male sex, presence of a cuff lesion, and simple cuff debridement. Greater tuberosity cysts and anterior capsulorrhaphy correlated with poorer outcomes and higher post-op pain. We hope you enjoy this episode!

On today’s episode we’re focusing on the thrower’s shoulder with Dr. Sara Edwards, an orthopedic sports medicine and shoulder surgeon at UCSF. We have some great articles for you that contribute well to our conversation on different shoulder pathology in the overhead throwing athlete.  We start off our discussion today with a review article from the April 2023 issue of the yellow journal titled “Surgical Treatment of Superior Labral / Biceps Pathology in the Overhead Thrower.” The authors concluded that type II SLAP tears are the most common and are often difficult to diagnose due to frequent false positives on MRI. Therefore, history and physical exam correlation are critical. Nonop management – including rest, physical therapy targeting internal rotation deficits, and correction of scapular dyskinesis – can help, but return-to-play rates among pitchers remain low, around ~22%.When surgery is indicated, options include labral repair, biceps tenodesis, and rarely tenotomy. SLAP repair yields variable outcomes, with elite throwers showing the poorest return to prior performance – often less than 40%. Biceps tenodesis was once a salvage procedure but is now increasingly favored for selected athletes due to higher satisfaction, improved function, and return-to-sport rates of 70–80%. However, its impact on elite throwing mechanics remains uncertain. Then, from the June 2022 issue of JSES, we discuss a systematic review article titled “Return to play following nonsurgical management of SLAP tears.” This study evaluated outcomes of conservative treatment in 244 athletes (162 of which were elite). Across five studies, the overall return-to-play rate was 54%, rising to 78% among those who completed rehab. Return to prior performance was 43% overall and 72% for rehab completers. Successful programs emphasized restoring internal rotation, correcting scapular dyskinesis, and strengthening the rotator cuff and kinetic chain, with most athletes returning within six months. Risk factors for failure of conservative treatment were: older age, overhead sports participation (particularly baseball pitchers), traumatic injury, positive compression-rotation tests, rotator cuff pathology, longer careers or symptom duration, and Bennett spurs. Patient-reported outcomes improved significantly with nonoperative care. The authors conclude that nonsurgical management can be effective – especially for athletes who adhere to structured rehabilitation – but success is less predictable in older or high-demand overhead throwers.We are joined today by Dr. Sara Edwards, an orthopedic sports medicine and shoulder specialist at the University of California in San Francisco, and an Associate Professor at UCSF School of Medicine. She received her medical degree from Northwestern University and remained at Northwestern to complete her orthopedic surgery residency.  Thereafter, she completed a fellowship in sports medicine and shoulder surgery at Columbia University.  Dr. Edwards is currently the team physician for the City College of San Francisco, the University of San Francisco and the Oakland Ballet. 

Welcome to another episode of Game Plan! As you might remember from our episode on ACL graft choices, these Game Plan episodes are specifically designed for patients – to hopefully answer some of the questions you have about the most common sports medicine conditions and surgical treatments. We’re continuing with our favorite topic today – ACL tears – but today’s episode is going to focus on risk factors for ACL tears. Specifically, which of these risk factors can we modify to lessen the chance of sustaining ACL tear and how do we decrease that risk.Please note that this episode is going to focus strictly on ACL reconstruction. For more information on ACL rehab check out our recent two-part episode with Candace Townley Cox back in April of this year. We’ve covered the addition of “LET” or “lateral extra-articular tenodesis” to ACL reconstruction in an Overtime episode in November of 2021 and again with Dr. Brian Waterman live at the AAOS meeting back in March of this year. And, of course, our first Game Plan episode was on how to choose the best ACL graft for reconstruction, so definitely check that out.

Welcome to Overtime with the Sports Docs. Today, we’re talking about Cyclops Syndrome after ACL reconstruction surgery. We review an article published in this month’s issue of AJSM titled “Risk Profile for Cyclops Syndrome Necessitating Reoperation After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction.” But first, let’s back up a bit and discuss the basics, starting with what Cyclops Syndrome is.Cyclops syndrome is when a fibrous nodule — the so-called “cyclops lesion” — forms in front of the ACL graft, usually leading to a loss of terminal extension – or reaching full straightening of the knee. Clinically, athletes can’t fully straighten the knee; you may feel a mechanical block or audible clunk; and also feel their gait or running pattern is disrupted.So, Dr. Ting Cong and colleagues at UPMC analyzed 1,163 primary ACL reconstructions performed between 2014 and 2021. Average patient age: about 25 years. They looked at surgical, anatomic, and patient-specific variables — everything from graft type and diameter to notch width, posterior tibial slope (PTS), tunnel position, remnant preservation, and even contralateral knee hyperextension.They wanted to define a risk profile — who’s more likely to need that second surgery for a symptomatic cyclops lesion. Listen to learn all about their findings!

Welcome to GamePlan with the Sports Docs. On each of these mini episodes, we chat about a new article or new surgical technique in the field of sports medicine. We’ll give you our quick take on the most recent data and how this data will be impacting our practice.Today, we’re talking about hamstring injuries in the NFL. And if your fantasy team is anything like my fantasy team, it currently looks like an infirmary. So, you’ll probably want to listen in to this episode.Now, we’ve covered hamstring injuries in the NFL before.  Last year we did an entire Game Plan episode dedicated to this topic.  That is episode #52 if you want to check it out. Today, we are actually reviewing a new study just published this month in AJSM that focused on how player characteristics, injury severity and imaging findings can impact the amount of time missed as well as risk of recurrent injury. The article is titled “Correlation of Player and Imaging Characteristics with Severity and Missed Time in the National Football League Professional Athletes with Hamstring Strain Injury.” Molly Day, Scott Rodeo and team at HSS published this retrospective cross-sectional study that aimed to identify certain player characteristics, clinical examination findings and MRI  results that were associated with injury severity and missed playing time. As always, links to all of the papers that we discuss on this show can be found on our podcast website – www.thesportsdocspod.com

Today, we’re heading back to the NFL to discuss a surprisingly serious injury – turf toe. In Week 2 of the 2025 NFL season, Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow was sacked and sustained left great toe injury.  This was ultimately diagnosed as a grade 3 turf toe injury requiring surgery.  Burrow was placed on injured reserved and elected to undergo surgical repair. While the surgery reportedly went well, timing for return is uncertain, though initial estimates are around 3 months. 

We get lots of questions from our patients and our listeners each week. And they’re great questions, so rather than responding individually we thought we’d do these mini episodes where highlight some of the best questions and our responses, with some literature to back it up.Today we will be tackling: “What are the most studied and most effective supplements currently for sports medicine patients — both for performance and for injury recovery?”“What’s the current evidence and your view on the NICE ROCC palm cooling device? Does it really enhance recovery or performance?”“What’s the latest on bracing for shoulder dislocations when returning to sport? Are functional braces advisable, and in what role do they play?”

Today, we’re diving into one of the most serious injuries in American football, and that is a knee dislocation. Dolphins star wide receiver Tyreek Hill recently suffered a devastating knee injury in the Monday Night Football game versus the Jets. He dislocated his knee resulting in multiple torn ligaments, including his ACL. Tyreek was taken to the hospital directly from the game for further evaluation and ended up undergoing urgent surgery for ligament reconstruction and repair. The team has obviously declared that this is a season-ending injury, and we wish him the best in his recovery.

Welcome to another episode of Game Plan! These Game Plan episodes are specifically designed for patients – to hopefully answer some of the questions you have about the most common sports medicine conditions and surgical treatments. But today’s episode is a little different and we’re excited about it! Today, we’re focusing on common injuries in the NFL and how these injuries impact time missed and player performance once athletes ultimately return to play.This is something that each NFL team looks at carefully when evaluating rookie prospects before draft day. Teams look at the number of previous injuries, the types and severity of the injuries and treatment rendered when trying to decide on the ranking of a draft candidate. Now, this is just one facet of the evaluation – a physical examination is performed at the NFL Combine and performance metrics post-injury are obviously taken into account. But as the literature continues to grow in this area, it is becoming more feasible to project a player’s injury risk, career length and even performance in the NFL. This is useful information for NFL teams but also fantasy football enthusiasts who want to make sure they draft the best players for their team. So, our discussion today is going to focus on common injuries in the NFL and how that injury history may impact player reliability (games played), longevity for the season and performance. 

In this episode, we’re going to continue our discussion with Dr. Travis Matheney and focus on surgical treatment options for borderline hip dysplasia.Our conversation picks back up with a review article published in the December 2024 issue of Current Reviews in Musculoskeletal Medicine titled “Borderline Hip Dysplasia - Best Treated with Hip Arthroscopy or Periacetabular Osteotomy?” Dr. Andrea Spiker and colleagues summarized the current research comparing isolated hip arthroscopy to periacetabular osteotomy for patients with borderline hip dysplasia.  They noted improved postoperative clinical outcome scores and low rates of conversion to total hip arthroplasty in both groups.  The authors concluded that successful clinical outcome seem to rely on treating underlying clinical pathology as well as appropriate surgical indications and surgical techniques.Then, from the April 2021 issue of OJSM, we review an article titled “Comparison Between Hip Arthroscopic Surgery and Periacetabular Osteotomy for the Treatment of Patients With Borderline Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip.” This systematic review authored by Dr. Marc Philippon and his team at the Steadman Clinic in Vail found that outcomes improved across all patient reported outcome measures whether patients were treated using arthroscopic surgery or PAO.  They noted that revision surgery was also common in both procedures. We finish up with an article from the September 2017 issue of AJSM titled “Early Functional Outcomes of Periacetabular Osteotomy After Failed Hip Arthroscopic Surgery for Symptomatic Acetabular Dysplasia.” Bryan Kelly and his team at HSS investigated the effect of prior arthroscopic hip surgery on clinical outcomes after periacetabular osteotomy or “PAO”. They found that patients who previously underwent hip arthroscopy had inferior functional outcomes at 6 months and 12 months after PAO compared to patients with no prior hip surgery. The authors note that both groups significantly improved post-op and there was no difference in complications or reoperation between the groups. 

On today’s episode we’re focusing on the management of borderline hip dysplasia with Dr. Travis Matheney, a pediatric orthopedic surgeon at Boston Children's Hospital. We have some great articles for you that contribute well to our conversation on the treatment options for borderline hip dysplasia. We’ll start off our discussion today with an article titled “Periacetabular Osteotomy Improves Pain and Function in Patients With Lateral Center-edge Angle Between 18° and 25°, but Are These Hips Really Borderline Dysplastic?” Dr. Michael McClincy and team at Boston Children’s Hospital concluded that patients with a lateral center edge angles of 18-25 frequently have other radiographic features of dysplasia suggestive of abnormal femoral head coverage by the acetabulum and that these hips may be inappropriately labeled as “borderline” or “mild” dysplasia.  The authors recommended a more thorough radiographic evaluation of the patient with suspected dysplasia, including measurement of the Tonnis angle, FEAR index, anterior and posterior wall index, and anterior center edge angle.We are joined today by Dr. Travis Matheney, an Assistant Professor of orthopedic surgery at Harvard Medical School and pediatric orthopedic surgeon at Boston Children’s Hospital.  He has a particular interest in pediatric hip pathology and is part of the Child & Young Adult Hip Preservation program at Boston Children’s. Dr. Matheney trained Ashley and I during our residency at Harvard, so we’re very excited to have him join us today and share his wisdom on this controversial topic.

Our conversation picks back up with an article published just last month in AJSM titled “Player Tracking Metrics to Predict Risk of ACL Injuries During Change-of-Direction Scenarios in the NFL.” The authors analyzed 216 ACL injuries that occurred in the NFL from 2018–2022 to determine how player tracking data could help predict injury risk, particularly during change-of-direction or “CoD” plays. They found that nearly half of ACL injuries occurred during CoD scenarios, most often involving high speeds followed by rapid deceleration. The authors noted that 98% of players were decelerating at the moment of injury. Using synchronized video and player tracking, the researchers found that maximum speed and normalized maximum deceleration power were significant predictors of ACL injury risk. Additionally, special teams plays showed the highest rates of CoD ACL injuries, though when motion data were factored in, the elevated risk was better explained by player speed and deceleration demands rather than play type alone. These findings highlight the potential to use tracking metrics for real-time risk monitoring, improved prevention programs, and possibly even future changes to training or game rules to reduce injury risk.We’re going to wrap up today with a study that is currently ongoing and not yet published. Funded by the AOSSM Playmaker Grant, this clinical trial is investigating the use of wearable muscle oxygenation sensors to improve return-to-play assessment after ACL reconstruction. Dr. Voos, Dr. Calcei, and their team at the UH Drusinsky Sports Medicine Institute have found that muscle oxygenation recovery lagged behind clinical clearance in several cases. Eight athletes did not regain normal muscle oxygenation even when they were deemed ready to return. These findings suggest that wearable muscle oxygen saturation monitoring may add a valuable physiologic layer to current return to play protocols, potentially predicting safer and more individualized recovery timelines.

On today’s episode we’re focusing on wearable technology for athlete performance, recovery and injury prevention with Dr. Jacob Calcei, an orthopedic surgeon at University Hospitals in Cleveland and team physician for the Cleveland Browns. We’ll start off our discussion today with an article titled “Wearable Performance Devices in Sports Medicine” from the January 2016 issue of Sports Health. The authors review the rapid rise of wearable sensor technologies in athletics, highlighting their ability to track real-time physiologic and movement data for optimizing performance and reducing injury risk. These tools can provide valuable insights into workloads, biomechanics, and fatigue, supporting tailored training programs and early injury prevention strategies. While wearable devices have shown promise, evidence for their effectiveness in professional sports remains limited, and further research is needed to validate accuracy, develop standardized training protocols, and address practical challenges such as reliability and usability.Then, from the January 2020 issue of Sports Heath, we review an article titled “Does Overexertion Correlate With Increased Injury? The Relationship Between Player Workload and Soft Tissue Injury in Professional American Football Players Using Wearable Technology.” This study investigates whether sudden increases in training load, as measured by wearable GPS and accelerometry technology, are associated with higher rates of soft tissue injury in professional American football players.  The authors analyzed two NFL seasons and found that injured players experienced significantly greater spikes in workload during the week of injury compared to the prior month. Specifically,  they found that those exceeding an acute-to-chronic workload ratio (ACR) of 1.6 being 1.5 times more likely to sustain an injury. The effect was particularly pronounced in the preseason, when workloads were higher and hamstring injuries were most common. The findings suggest that rapid workload increases predispose athletes to soft tissue injury, while consistent training loads may offer a protective effect. The authors conclude that monitoring player workload with wearable technology could help medical and training staff design safer, more individualized training regimens to reduce injury risk.We are joined today by Dr. Jacob Calcei, a board-certified orthopedic sports medicine physician and shoulder surgeon at University Hospitals and an assistant professor of Orthopedic Surgery at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine. He is a team physician for the Cleveland Browns as well as several local high schools. Dr. Calcei has published extensively on a variety of sports medicine topics, has a particular interest in injury prevention and finding ways that we can make sports safer while optimizing athlete performance. So, we’re very excited to have him join us today.

Today’s episode is going to focus on the management of rotator cuff retears — including tips and tricks for successful revision repair and augmentation options.We are joined today by two outstanding guests! Dr. Brian Waterman is a Professor of orthopedic surgery at Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Chief of Sports Medicine & Shoulder Surgery at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center and Director of the Sports Medicine & Shoulder Surgery Fellowship. He is on the editorial board of the Arthroscopy Journal and American Journal of Orthopaedics. Dr. Waterman is a team physician for Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem Dash and US Ski and Snowboard.Dr. Gabriella Ode is an orthopedic surgeon specializing in sports medicine and shoulder surgery at the Hospital for Special Surgery, Assistant Professor of orthopedic surgery at Weill Cornell Medical College and adjunct faculty with the Department of Bioengineering at Clemson University. She is also a team orthopaedic surgeon for the New York Liberty of the WNBA.So, without further ado, let’s get to the Exhibit Hall!

Today’s episode is going to focus on the management of UCL injuries in throwing athletes.We are joined today by two outstanding guests! Dr. Michael Banffy is a Professor of Orthopedic Surgery and Chief of Orthopedic Sports Medicine at Cedars-Sinai, as well as Director of the Orthopedic Sports Medicine Fellowship at Kerlan-Jobe. He is a team physician for the Los Angeles Dodgers and Los Angeles Rams.Dr. Christopher Camp is a board-certified orthopaedic surgeon specializing in sports medicine and shoulder and elbow surgery. Since 2019, he has been Medical Director, Team Physician, and Director of High Performance for the Minnesota Twins Baseball Club. Dr. Camp conducts clinical and basic science research on injuries of the shoulder, elbow and knee, including a focus on the throwing athlete. So, without further ado, let’s get to the Exhibit Hall!

Today’s episode is going to focus on addressing hip pathology in the setting of dysplasia — soft tissue management alone or with a periacetabular osteotomy.We are joined today by two outstanding guests! Dr. Jorge Chahla is an Associate Professor of orthopedic surgery at Rush University Medical Center and serves as the Director of Biomechanical Research and Director of the International Fellowship Program at Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush. He is a team physician for the Chicago White Sox, Chicago Bulls and The Joffrey Ballet.Dr. Robert Parisien is an Associate Professor of orthopedic surgery at Mount Sinai Orthopedics and is a team physician for US Ski and Snowboard and USA Fencing. He has published extensively on the topic of hip preservation and received numerous research awards over the years, so we are very excited to hear his take on this topic!So, without further ado, let’s get to the Exhibit Hall!

Today’s episode is going to focus on lateral augmentation procedures to supplement ACL reconstruction, including lateral extraarticular tenodesis versus anterolateral ligament reconstruction.We are joined today by two outstanding guests!  Dr. Alan Getgood is the Chief of Surgery at Aspetar and Adjunct Professor of orthopedic surgery at the University of Western Ontario. He is a clinician scientist who has secured over $9 million in peer-reviewed and industry-funded grants to build his research program focused on complex knee reconstruction. Dr. Getgood is member of the AOSSM Board of Directors, Herodicus Society, ACL Study Group and was the program chair for the ISAKOS Biennial Congress last month.Dr. James Voos is a Professor of orthopedic surgery at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine and Chairman of the orthopedics department at University Hospitals. He successfully launched the UH Drusinsky Sports Medicine Institute and served at the Chief of Sports Medicine and Medical Director. Dr. Voos is the head team physician for the Cleveland Browns, Medical Director for the Cleveland Ballet and current President of the NFL Physicians Society.So, without further ado, let’s get to the Exhibit Hall!

Today’s episode is going to focus on surgical management of primary and recurrent anterior glenohumeral instability in athletes. We are joined today by two outstanding guests! Dr. John Kelly is a professor of orthopedic surgery at the University of Pennsylvania and Director of Shoulder Sports Medicine at UPenn Ortho. He is Co-director of the Sports Medicine Fellowship and is a team physician for the Philadelphia Union. Dr. Kelly is the former President of the Eastern Orthopaedic Association and Vice President of the Arthroscopy Association of North America.Dr. Matt Fury is an orthopaedic surgeon at the Baton Rouge Orthopaedic Clinic who specializes in sports-related injuries to the shoulder, elbow, and knee as well as complex shoulder conditions.  Dr. Fury graduated from LSU Medical School in New Orleans before completing his orthopaedic surgery residency at the Harvard Orthopaedic Residency Program.  He then completed specialized fellowship training at the world-renowned Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City. So, without further ado, let’s get to the Exhibit Hall!

Today’s episode is going to focus on ligament reconstruction in skeletally immature patients – including various growth plate sparing ACL reconstruction techniques, MPFL reconstruction considerations and clinical outcomes.We are joined today by two outstanding guests! Dr. Mininder Kocher is a professor of orthopedic surgery at Harvard Medical School, Chief of Sports Medicine and Director of the Sports Medicine Fellowship at Boston Children's Hospital. He is the former President of PRISM and POSNA, and serves on the board of directors for AAOS and AOSSM.Dr. Lauren Redler is an assistant professor of orthopedic surgery at Columbia University Irving Medical Center and is actively involved in medical student, resident and fellow education at Columbia Ortho. She has published extensively on surgical treatment of ACL tears and patellar instability in pediatric patients, and is presenting her research on outcomes of MPFL reconstruction in skeletally immature patients at AOSSM this year!So, without further ado, let’s get to the Exhibit Hall!

Today’s episode is going to focus on mental performance and burnout — specifically: What is burnout? What are some risk factors for burnout? And how do we prevent and treat burnout in orthopedic surgeons?We are joined today by two outstanding guests! Dr. Kathy Coyner is an Associate Professor of orthopedic surgery at the University of Connecticut and Director of the Sports Medicine Fellowship at UConn. She is a team physician for the UConn Huskies and serves on the AOSSM Board of Directors. Dr. Coyner is the Director of Fellowship Research and has published extensively on a wide range of orthopedic conditions. Dr. Dean Taylor is a Professor of orthopedic surgery at Duke University, Director of the Duke Sports Medicine Fellowship and a team physician for Duke University. He is the Chairman of the Feagin Leadership Program and is a former President of AOSSM.So, without further ado, let’s get to the Exhibit Hall!https://www.thesportsdocspod.com/episodes

Today’s episode is kind of an Overtime / Ask The Sports Docs crossover. One of the PTs that Ashley works closely with asked her why some patients do well after ACL surgery and some don’t fare as well, despite the surgery being identical in terms of technique, graft choice, post-op protocol etc. An article was just published in AJSM this month looking at this, specifically investigating factors that impact outcomes after ACL reconstruction. The article that we are reviewing today is titled “Primary Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction in Level 1 Athletes: Factors Associated With Return to Play, Reinjury, and Knee Function at 5 Years of Follow-up.” This level 2 cohort study aimed to analyze the outcomes of primary ACLR in level 1 athletes and identify preop and intraop factors associated with RTP, ipsilateral ACL reinjury, contralateral ACL injury, and IKDC score at 5 years post-op.** We have also been chatting about this episode offline and discussed an article that was recently published looking at preoperative grit scores and postoperative range of motion after ACL reconstruction. Grit score is another objective measurement that we can obtain preoperatively and perhaps use to guide intervention during post-op recovery. We actually did an Overtime episode looking at the impact of grit scores on post-op outcomes after ACL reconstruction. That is episode #53 if you want to check it out! But today's second article is titled “Higher Grit Scores Are Associated With Earlier Increases in Knee Flexion Following Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction With Meniscus Repair in Pediatric Patients.” It was published in the April 2023 issue of the Journal of Pediatrics. Pete Fabricant and his team at HSS found that patients with grit scores below the 50th percentile undergoing ACLR + meniscus repair have 5 degrees less total ROM at 3 months compared with those with high grit scores. Though 5 degrees might not seem like a lot, quicker motion recovery in patients with high grit may be a leading indicator of these patients likelihood to achieve other post-op milestones and meet criteria for RTS more quickly. This obvious needs future study to see how grit impacts other factors like strength gains, passing RTP assessments etc.

Welcome to Overtime with the Sports Docs! On each of these mini episodes, we chat about a new article or new surgical technique in the field of sports medicine. We’ll give you our quick take on the most recent data and how this data will be impacting our practice.Today, we’re talking about posterior cruciate ligament injuries – specifically, surgical treatment; including reconstruction technique and graft choice. We’ll be reviewing an article published this month in AJSM titled, “Single-Bundle Autografts Outperform Single-Bundle Achilles Allograft in PCL Reconstruction in Terms of Posterior Tibial Translation and Clinical Outcomes, but No Differences Exist Between Double-Bundle Grafts.”LaPrade PCL Stress Test: https://drrobertlaprademd.com/pcl-stress-radiograph-technique-edina-egan-mn/

We get lots of questions from our patients and our listeners each week. And they’re great questions, so rather than responding individually we thought we’d do these mini episodes where highlight some of the best questions and our responses, with some literature to back it up.Before we jump into our discussion today, we want to quickly update you on something very exciting that is coming up in July. And if you follow us on social media, you probably already know what we are about to say. We will be hosting our podcast series live again for a third year at the AOSSM Annual Meeting in Nashville. We will be doing several live shows per day from within the Field House on Thursday July 10 th and Friday July 11 th. We have some awesome guests lined up so make sure you’re following our socials to see our schedule that will be dropping soon!Alright, back to our discussion. Let’s start today with a question from a patient: “Should I Have PRP for My Partial Rotator Cuff Tear?"

We get lots of questions from our patients and our listeners each week. And they’re great questions, so rather than responding individually we thought we’d do these mini episodes where highlight some of the best questions and our responses, with some literature to back it up.Before we jump into our discussion today, we want to quickly update you on something very exciting that is coming up in July. And if you follow us on social media, you probably already know what we are about to say. We will be hosting our podcast series live again for a third year at the AOSSM Annual Meeting in Nashville. We will be doing several live shows per day from within the Field House on Thursday July 10 th and Friday July 11 th. We have some awesome guests lined up so make sure you’re following our socials to see our schedule that will be dropping soon!Alright, back to our discussion. Let’s start today with a question from a patient: “Should I have surgery for my SLAP tear?”

Today’s episode is going to focus on management of patellar instability – including nonsurgical treatment, MPFL reconstruction techniques and the addition of other procedures including trochleoplasty and osteotomies. We are joined today by two outstanding guests!  Dr. Miho Tanaka is a Professor of Orthopedic Surgery at Harvard Medical School and the Director of the women sports medicine program at Mass General Brigham.  She is also the head team physician for the New England Revolution and team physician for the Boston Red Sox, Boston ballet and Boston Glory.Dr. Beth Shubin Stein is an orthopaedic surgeon at the Hospital for Special Surgery and Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at Weill Cornell Medical College. She is also the Co-Director of the women’s sports medicine center at HSS and the Director of the Patellofemoral Center at HSS.So, without further ado, let’s get to the Field House!

Today’s episode is going to focus on the workup of a patient with a suspected multiligamentous knee injury as well as a surgical approach that follows – including acute versus delayed surgery, repair versus reconstruction, surgical technique and order of operations in the OR. We are joined today by two outstanding guests! Dr. Matt Provencher is an orthopedic surgeon at the Steadman Clinic in Vail Colorado, Principle Investigator at the Steadman Philippon Research Institute and assistant Editor-in-Chief of Arthroscopy.  He is very active in academic societies and serves on the Board of Directors for AOSSM, AANA and SOMOS.Dr. Armando Vidal is also an orthopedic surgeon at the Steadman Clinic in Vail and is the Vice President of the Medical Staff of Vail Health Hospital.  He is was previously the head team physician for the Denver Nuggets, and  former team physician for the University of Colorado men's basketball and the University of Denver men's hockey.So, without further ado, let’s get to the Field House!

Our last poster is titled Outcomes and Return to Sport Following Arthroscopic Bankart Repair for Anterior Shoulder Instability in Contact versus Non-contact Athletes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.  We’ve spoken a lot about the surgical treatment for anterior shoulder instability on this podcast – most recently with Dr. Brian Lau.  That is episode #48 and 49 if you want to check it out.This study focused on outcomes of arthroscopic Bankart repair for the treatment of anterior shoulder instability, specifically comparing outcomes in contact athletes versus noncontact athletes.  This systematic review included 18 studies with 1-year minimum follow-up.The authors found that contact and noncontact athletes had similar rates of return to sport as well as similar rates of return to preinjury level of play.  However, they also found that contact athletes demonstrated significantly greater rates of recurrent instability, at 28% compared to 8% in noncontact athletes.  Contact athletes also demonstrated significantly greater need for revision surgery, at 12% compared to 3% in noncontact athletes.