PHOENIX (August 25, 2025) – An orthopedic surgeon with Dignity Health Mercy Gilbert Medical Center is speaking out against a myth that a common elbow surgery among young athletes can improve performance. Braiden Heaps, MD, says the rise in demand for the Tommy John procedure among high school athletes may be due to a misconception that receiving the surgery will improve play on the field. 

“Some parents and players think the Tommy John procedure will help them throw harder and faster, but that is not true’” Dr. Heaps explains. “We’ve even had patients come in with no injury and ask for Tommy John because of  this myth, and so combatting that misinformation is incredibly important.”

The procedure is meant to replace a damaged ulnar collateral ligament (UCL), or more simply put, a tendon in the throwing elbow. Surgeons have to harvest the replacement tendon from elsewhere in the patient’s body and drill tunnels in the bone near the ulnar nerve. The average recovery time from a Tommy John surgery is 15 months.

Historically, Tommy John surgeries have been most common amongst Major League Baseball (MLB) players. In fact, the procedure was first performed  in 1974 and named for MLB pitcher, Tommy John, who was the first to ever receive it.

In the past couple decades, more high school athletes have torn their UCL and needed the surgery. There is significant evidence to suggest that this is due to young athletes focusing on only one sport, year-round. This often stems from parents wanting their child to become eligible for an athletic scholarship by the time they enroll for college.

Dr. Heaps explains, “I understand the pressure to specialize in one sport, however there is significant risk to your child’s health with single sport specialization.” That risk, as Dr. Heaps shares, makes kids more susceptible to getting injured from overuse of certain muscles or more likely to experience burn out.

Dr. Heaps advises adequate rest after playing and encourages athletes to try a different sport during the off-season, or to even switch to a different position within the same sport.

In terms of the risk factors for elbow injuries, Dr. Heaps says they are pitching, throwing breaking balls from a young age, not giving your arm enough rest, and not following strengthening and rehabilitation protocols. 

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