Blog Articles

Is Surgery Always Necessary for a Rotator Cuff Tear?

Acute rotator cuff tears are common in athletes of all ages. But these painful injuries can occassionally occur in kids who play sports. Do rotator cuff tears always need surgical repair? Or will they heal on their own with minimal interventions?

Mar 17th, 2025

Recognizing the Signs of UCL Injury: When Young Players May Need Tommy John

You don’t want to think about surgery for your young athlete. But you also don’t want them to have a permanent injury that could take them out of their game. When is it time for Tommy John? 

Feb 2nd, 2025

Choosing the Right Sports Medicine Specialist in Houston, TX

If your family is sporty, injuries are sure to follow. Whether you’re pro athletes, school athletes, or weekend warriors, you need a sports medicine specialist. Find the right one now in Houston, Texas, so you’re ready before an injury occurs.

Jan 10th, 2025

Top Treatments for Tennis Elbow: From Physical Therapy to Surgery

Even if you’ve never played tennis, if you play a sport or perform manual labor, you could develop tennis elbow. What are the best treatments to get you back in the swing of things? We’ve got that covered.

Dec 12th, 2024

Top 6 Tips For Finding the Best Orthopedic Surgeons in Houston, Texas

You might need an orthopedic surgeon if you’ve been injured or are dealing with a chronic degenerative disease. Here are six tips to help you find the best orthopedic surgeon in Houston.

Nov 2nd, 2024

What Can I Expect During Tommy John Surgery Recovery?

After Tommy John surgery, you want to return as the pitcher you were before the injury. Is that realistic? Here’s what you can expect during recovery. 

Oct 16th, 2024

What Are Growth Plates and How Are They Affected By Youth Sports?

You worry about broken bones and head injuries. However, if your child is involved in youth sports, you should also worry about growth-plate injuries. Here’s how to protect your child’s growth plates.

Sep 12th, 2024

Exercises and Stretches to Relieve Forearm Tightness

Whether you’re a throwing athlete or a boxer, you need strong and flexible forearms. Forearm tightness is often a precursor to conditions that take you out of the game. Here’s how to prevent it.

Aug 5th, 2024

Common Baseball Throwing Injuries and How They're Treated

Despite required or recommended pitch counts and rest days, baseball throwing injuries are common. Unfortunately, your enthusiasm for your game could be the thing that takes you out of it. 

Jul 25th, 2024

Strategies to Prevent Little League Elbow

When your Little Leaguer is serious about play, you do all you can to support their enthusiasm. However, Little League pitchers are prone to the same types of throwing injuries as pro athletes, including elbow injuries. Here's how to prevent them.

Jun 17th, 2024

Advanced Technologies that Ensure Your Tommy John Surgery is Successful

You’ve torn your ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) and need Tommy John surgery. For the best results, you need the most experienced surgeon as well as advanced technologies that encourage healing. Here’s how high-tech solutions help you throw again.

May 14th, 2024

Just Diagnosed with a SLAP Tear? Here's What To Expect

You thought you dislocated your shoulder again. But your doctor just said you have a SLAP tear. What is it? How is it treated? And how long does it take to heal? Find out here. Keep reading to learn more.

Apr 2nd, 2024

Can An ACL Tear Heal on Its Own?

Your body has an amazing ability to heal itself, given the proper care and nutrients. But when you tear your anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), is self-healing enough? 

Mar 6th, 2024

Hey Coach, Teach Your Travel Baseball Players the Importance of RICE When They Suffer an Injury

When it comes to recovery, utilize the MEAT and RICE rules. Here’s how coaches can help their traveling athletes heal with these two acronyms. Read on to learn more.

Feb 8th, 2024

Bone Spur Elbow Repair: What to Expect after Surgery 

You may have a bone spur if your elbow hurts when you throw or play your sport. Bone spurs limit your range of motion. After surgically removing a bone spur, you’ll need to give yourself recovery time.

Dec 6th, 2023

Habits That Help Promote Strong, Stable, Shoulder Joints

When you’re a throwing or swinging athlete, your shoulders are at risk for dislocation and instability. Act now to build up strength and mobility to keep them stable and safe. Here’s how.

Nov 10th, 2023

Preventing Repetitive Stress Injuries in Young Athletes: What Every Parent Should Know

Your kid wants to excel in their sport, so you encourage their efforts. But practice and play require repetitive movements that can lead to stress injuries. Take these preventive steps now so your young athlete stays safe and in the game.

Oct 2nd, 2023

Our Favorite Off-Season Training Tips

As an athlete, you need to stay in shape all year, whether in-season or not. How do you keep fit and strong when your coach isn’t on your case? The following are tips to stay on top of your game.

Sep 6th, 2023

Diet Hacks to Keep Your Joints in Game Time Condition

Pro athletes must keep their joints in top condition to stay in the game. That’s why they’re ahead of the curve regarding preventive strategies and cutting-edge therapies. The following are some of their top diet hacks.

Aug 3rd, 2023

How to Workout When Your Arm Is in a Cast/brace

Sports and injuries go hand-in-hand. In fact, if you play sports, you’re more likely to break a bone. But you’re also more eager to stay in shape. How do you do that with an arm in a cast or brace?

Jul 12th, 2023

3 Knee Protection Tips Every Basketball Player Should Know

Stopping short. Jumping high. Pivoting. All the moves of an exciting basketball game put tremendous stress on your knees. If you blow out your knee, you could be sitting on the sidelines for months or years. How do you keep your knees safe?

Jun 6th, 2023

Want to Avoid Tommy John? Start Doing This Today

If you throw for your sport or your living, the last thing you want to do is throw out your arm by tearing the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) in your elbow. Although Tommy John surgery repairs torn UCLs, the best treatment is prevention.

May 19th, 2023

Signs Your Shoulder Isn't Stable

As an athlete, you need to be aware of your body, its mechanics, and its needs. If you play sports that involve throwing or hitting, you may develop an unstable shoulder. Know the signs of shoulder instability to avoid further injury.

Mar 14th, 2023

Daily Maintenance Exercises Every Pitcher Should Do

You may think that you get all of the exercise you need to keep your pitching arm strong from training and games. But the unique requirements of a high-velocity pitch mean you must train your entire body if you want to have a long career.

Feb 27th, 2023

Nonsurgical Treatments for Your Tennis Elbow

If your work or play demands that you lift or swing heavy objects, you could be at risk for tennis elbow. A weakened grip, arm pain, burning, and tingling are symptoms. Here's what to do.

Jan 10th, 2023

5 Common Shoulder Injuries in Athletes

Athletes who throw or swing are at increased risk for shoulder injuries. Read on to learn these five common shoulder injuries so you can prevent them.

Dec 12th, 2022

5 Reasons to Consider Physical Therapy for Your Chronic Pain

When part of your body hurts, you don’t want to move it and exercise. But often, when you have chronic pain, movement may be the very best treatment. That’s where physical therapy comes in.

Nov 7th, 2022

How to Protect Your Knee From a Meniscus Tear

Your knees have a crescent-shaped disc of cartilage called the meniscus. The menisci are shock absorbers that keep your knee joint safe. Here’s how to protect your knee from a meniscus tear.

Oct 12th, 2022

Life After Tommy John Surgery

You always admired Tommy John’s pitching record, but you never thought you’d need the surgery named after him. Now you do. Will you be able to replicate his astounding recovery and throw and play again? Follow the protocol and you should.

Sep 1st, 2022

What Every Athlete Should Know About Preventing Repetitive Stress Injuries

An occasional injury is just part of the game when you’re playing sports. After all, injuries happen, especially when running, jumping, or colliding. But did you know that repetitive motions involved in the game can also injure you?

Aug 8th, 2022

Stretches and Exercises That Help Shoulder Instability

After your shoulder has been dislocated, it can create instability in your joint, limiting your range of motion and strength. If you struggle with shoulder instability, strengthening your shoulder muscles, tendons, and ligaments can help.

Jul 6th, 2022

Tips for Returning to Play After an ACL Tear

The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) stabilizes your knee when you walk, run, and jump. Unfortunately, ACL tears are common and may take athletes out of their game for months or even permanently. With proper rehab, you can play again. Here’s how.

Jun 1st, 2022

The Benefits of Rehabilitation After a Sports Injury

When you injure yourself playing sports, you want to get back in the game as soon as possible. A sports injury, however, can sideline you completely if you don’t heal correctly. That’s why rehabilitation is essential.

May 3rd, 2022

How to Plan for Your Rotator Cuff Surgery

If you’ve torn your rotator cuff, you’ve probably tried everything from rest to steroids to ease the pain and restore mobility. However, in some cases, a surgical solution is the best option. If that’s your situation, here’s what to do.

Apr 5th, 2022

Are You a Pitcher with Recurring Elbow Pain? We Can Help Get You Back on the Field

When you throw a fastball or a curveball, tremendous stress is put on your pitching arm, particularly on the tendons and ligaments in your elbow. Recurrent elbow pain is a common reason pitchers are sidelined. Don’t let that happen to you.

Mar 7th, 2022

The Role of the Menisci In Your Knee

You probably didn’t even know you had menisci until you tore one of them. They are essential pieces of cartilage in your knee that absorb shocks. Here’s how to keep the menisci healthy and what to do if they’re injured.

Feb 3rd, 2022

Tennis Elbow: When Is Surgery the Best Option?

You don’t have to play tennis to develop a painful condition known as tennis elbow, which can make it nearly impossible to grip or lift an object. Most cases of tennis elbow resolve on their own. But if yours doesn’t, is surgery your best choice?

Jan 13th, 2022

Common ACL Injuries and What to Do About Them

You may never have heard of an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) before your injury. Once you sprain your ACL, you're at risk for re-injury. Here’s how to take care of your ACL injury now and how to prevent others in the future.

Dec 12th, 2021

Tommy John Surgery: How Long Does Recovery Take?

You tore your ulnar collateral ligament (UCL), and now you’re on the sidelines. The last thing you want to do is stay there. You know you need Tommy John surgery to repair your elbow, but you worry about how long it will take to fully recover.

Nov 14th, 2021

All About Knee Cap Dislocation: Signs, Treatment, and Recovery

If you’ve twisted or fallen on your knee, you may have done more than strain a ligament or two. You may have completely dislocated your knee cap. How can you tell if you have knee cap dislocation, and what do you do?

Oct 13th, 2021

What to Do About a Dislocated Knee

Young people are particularly susceptible to a type of knee injury called patellar instability, otherwise known as a dislocated kneecap. However, you can dislocate your knee at any age. Do it once, and it’s likely to happen again. Learn more.

Sep 9th, 2021

3 Common Causes of Shoulder Instability

You might be wondering why you are struggling to move your arm or lift objects. It’s impacting your daily life and your performance on the field. Why is your shoulder unstable? Read on to learn more.

Aug 15th, 2021

How Long Does It Take to Heal After ACL Reconstruction?

You tore your ACL so severely that you need reconstruction surgery to save your knee. But when can you return to your game, and how long do you have to stay on the bench so that your ACL can heal? Here’s the timeline.

Jul 15th, 2021

5 Treatment Options for Tennis Elbow

If your grip is weak or if you have pain in your elbow or forearm, you may have tennis elbow — even if you’ve never played a game of tennis in your life. Tennis elbow is an overuse injury. Here’s what to do about it.

Jun 23rd, 2021

What to Do About a Labral Tear

Many throwers have a torn labrum with no issues, but some have decreased velocity or pain. Symptomatic labral tears need rest and rehabilitation to prevent them from getting worse, but only sometimes do they need surgery. Here’s what to do.

May 20th, 2021

Tommy John Surgery for Athletes: What to Expect

You throw hard — but then you throw out your elbow. Now you’ve got to repair your ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) with Tommy John surgery. How do you prepare? What should you expect? Read on to learn more.

Apr 14th, 2021

Are Your Knees Stiff and Painful? You May Benefit From Patellar Stabilization

If you have a sensation that your knee “slips out”, or you don't trust your knee when you jump or change direction, your kneecap may be unstable. Realigning your knee with patellar stabilization helps you recover quickly, so you can return to activities.

Mar 10th, 2021

Shoulder Instability: Common Signs and Effective Treatment

Your shoulder is necessary to throw, swing, and even something as simple as putting on your uniform or clothing. An unstable shoulder can cause pain, injury, and take you out of the game. Here’s what to do about it.

Feb 4th, 2021

How To Help Your Child Avoid Concussions

If your child plays sports — particularly contact sports like football — you may worry about their brain health. How can you protect your child from a concussion or a traumatic brain injury (TBI) without sidelining them? Here are some tips.

Jan 19th, 2021

Everything You Need to Know About HIIT

When you first hear about HIIT, you might think it’s too good to be true. Work out less and get more benefits? How is that possible? It’s not only possible; it’s imperative if you want to maximize your health and optimize your athletic performance.

Nov 9th, 2020

From Little League to Major League and Everything in Between, We Can Treat Your Elbow Injury

Baseball’s been your life since you were a young child. From playing catch at the local ball field with friends to finally making the team, you’ve focused on becoming the best athlete you can be. Then you tear your UCL. Is your dream over?

Sep 21st, 2020

The Benefits of Physical Therapy in Preventing and Recovering From Injuries

It’s a fact of sports: if you play hard and don’t train properly, you’ll eventually experience an injury. That’s where physical therapy comes in. When you learn to use your body efficiently and pay attention to its signals, you keep your body safe.

Aug 6th, 2020

How to Stay in Shape During COVID-19 Restrictions

There’s still plenty of COVID-19 being spread in the Houston area. You definitely don’t want to be part of that trend and are taking all of the precautions. But how do you stay fit and strong, while also staying safe? Here are a few tips.

Jul 23rd, 2020

How To Get Back In The Game After A Meniscus Tear

You gave the game your all, but then your knee gave in. Even if you didn’t feel the pain at the time, you heard the pop. Now you’re in excruciating pain and you’ve been sidelined. Find out how you can get back in play after you’ve torn your meniscus.

Jun 1st, 2020

Telehealth: The Advantages of Telemedicine

Struggles to get to the clinic? Trying to reduce your exposure to COVID-19, as well as other contagious illnesses, and still need to see your doctor? Telehealth is safe and easy — receive quality care from anywhere.

Feb 20th, 2024

Dr. Lintner, MD featured in Houston Chronicle

Dr. Lintner, MD featured in Houston Chronicle

Oct 16th, 2020

Dynamic Warm Up with Houston Texans’ Roland Ramirez

Thank you to Roland Ramirez, Houston Texans Assistant Athletic Trainer and Director of Rehabilitation for working with Houston Methodist Sports...

Jan 26th, 2015

Interesting article on Tommy John Surgery.

Jon Roegele has compiled lots of information about pro players having Tommy John surgery. Though the return to play rate is excellent, we really...

Nov 22nd, 2014

White Water Kayaking after Rotator Cuff Repair

One of our patients, 73 year old L.D. has returned to white water kayaking after finishing her rehab following repair of a large rotator cuff tear....

Sep 2nd, 2014

Annette Monks rocks! National Champion!!

Annette Monks has recovered from her shoulder injury and subsequent surgery to become a multiple National Champion in competitive dance. She...

Dec 9th, 2013

New surgical video on Rotator Cuff Repair Augmented with Stem Cells and Growth Factors.

Rotator Cuff Repair can be improved by using the patient’s own stem cells to stimulate healing. This is a video of real surgery in which I...

Nov 28th, 2013

Your Own Stem Cells Can Help You Heal

Since 2012 Dr. Lintner has been using patients’ own stem cells to augment their healing after shoulder and knee surgery. The results are...

Nov 19th, 2013

Take ownership of your own digital health record on your smartphone!

Electronic medical records are growing but they are unwieldy for physicians and not accessible to patients who may want/need to have their records...

Nov 2nd, 2013

Stems cells for shoulder or knee surgery?

For the last 18 months I have been taking advantage of the stem cells naturally present in your bone marrow to accelerate my patients healing after...

Oct 24th, 2013

Prep for Sports! Agility training is key!

Dr. Lintner is interviewed by KPRC Channel 2 reporter Rachel McNeill regarding how to prepare for sports that involve cutting and jumping. Strength...

Oct 15th, 2013

Calcific Tendonitis

Check out the surgical video of calcific tendonitis of the rotator cuff. http://youtu.be/n4SGhw5hE5U...

Sep 25th, 2013

Physical exam of the elbow and shoulder

Want to diagnose an elbow injury? A shoulder injury? After presenting this topic at the Southwest Athletic Trainers Association annual meeting we...

Aug 6th, 2013

Football is coming, are you ready for the heat?

Dr. Lintner is interviewed about preparing for football practice in the heat. It is important to acclimate for the heat by exercising outside BEFORE...

Jul 29th, 2013

Is Field Turf Safer than Natural Grass?

Field Turf vs Natural Grass in American Journal of Sports Medicine Here is very good article written by other NFL team physicians regrding the...

Sep 14th, 2012

Core exercise using Swiss Ball by Dr. Coleman ( Astros Strength Coach)

Core Exercise using Swiss Ball by Dr. Coleman, Houston Astro Strength Coach This is a simple but effective modification to the typical “Dead...

Sep 7th, 2012

Dr. Lintner interviewed about faking of injuries in the NFL.

Listen to “Faking of injuries in the NFL?”...

Sep 27th, 2011

US News and World Report names Dr. Lintner to “The Best Doctors in America”

Dr. David Lintner was named to the US News and World Report list of The Best Doctors in America.Dr. Lintner is the Chief of Sports Medicine at The...

Sep 6th, 2011

Radio Interview

Listen to Dr. Lintner’s interview on Sports Radio 610 Regarding Heat Illness in Athletes. Avoid Heat Illness in Athletes....

Aug 30th, 2011

How Texas is Striving to Make Football Safer

Dr. Lintner is interviewed in Dave Campbell’s 2011 Texas Football magazine article regarding concussions, heat illness, and what Texas is doing...

Aug 25th, 2011

A Little Preparation Can Make for Safer Skiing

Dr. David Lintner was recently interviewed on the Methodist Minute about how to prevent ski injuries. Listen to the audio from the interview...

Dec 28th, 2010

Dr. Lintner Interviewed About Sore Knees

Dr. David Lintner was recently interviewed on Sports Radio 610 about sore knees, especially among “weekend warriors.” Knee pain can be...

Nov 24th, 2010

Dr. Lintner Interviewed about Platelet Rich Plasma Injections

Dr. David Lintner was recently interviewed on Sports Radio 610 about Platelet Rich Plasma Injections, which is sometimes referred to as, “blood...

Oct 19th, 2010

Viscosupplementation Treatment for Arthritis

The first line of treatment for osteoarthritis of the knee aims to relieve pain. Normally, pain relievers such as ibuprofen or nonsteroidal...

Sep 10th, 2010

Glucosamine and Chondroitin Sulfate

Glucosamine and Chondroitin Sulfate are over-the-counter nutritional supplements commonly used to treat osteoarthritis. In contrast to many...

Sep 10th, 2010

New Platelets Treatment Helps Athletes Recover from Injury Without Surgery

Dr. Lintner's interview on KHOU about Platelet Rich Plasma Injections, or PRP, and how it was used to speed up recovery for Astro's pitcher, Doug...

Dec 10th, 2009