Dr. Moose Herring

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Richmond, VA
Dr. Moose Herring

The opinions expressed here are my own and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of OrthoVirginia.

🏃‍♂️Athlete Treating Athletes
💪Fellowship-Trained Ortho Surgeon specializing in Shoulder Replacement, Rotator Cuff & ACL.
📍OrthoVirginia Richmond, VA
➡️ Book an appointment at the link in my About Section

03/06/2026

As I mentioned earlier this week, we're starting a new Friday series where I answer some common shoulder surgery questions I get in clinic every single day.

One of the most common questions I hear is: “Will I have to stay in the hospital?”

For most patients, the answer is no. About 99% of rotator cuff repairs and shoulder instability surgeries are done outpatient, meaning you go home the same day. Even with total shoulder replacements, about 70–80% can be done outpatient.

That said, every patient is different. Some people have medical conditions or need certain implants that make the hospital the safer option.

If you're looking into shoulder surgery in 2026, come see me: bit.ly/mooseherring

03/05/2026

New Blog: Why I Choose to Run/Walk

About 12 years ago, I was deep into Ironman training. I was having trouble with longer runs. My coach at the time suggested I adopt a run/walk program for training and racing. My initial response was negative. I would train harder, get more fit, and run better. After a hip stress fracture, the training and mindset had to change.

I started running all of my longer runs (longer than 60 min) as a 9 min run/1 min fast pace walk. The change was remarkable. I was disciplined. I forced myself to stick to this plan. I ran my fastest marathon, but more importantly I ran a 3:22 off the bike at Ironman Mt. Tremblant and qualified for Kona. A couple of months later I ran 3:22 at Kona and had a magical day. I have vivid memories of working through my run at Challenge Roth in Germany. A guy with a bullhorn said, “Marion (my name was on my race number), those are not walking shoes, those are running shoes.” I replied, “This is planned!” Check your ego at the door. I have found the overall pace for longer runs is faster.

There are several benefits to the walk/run strategy.

1. Run/walk allows you to stay in the appropriate lower heart rate for Zone 2. Endurance longer runs should be in Zone 2 or at a lower heart rate. The purpose of endurance runs is to teach the body to burn fat. The run/walk prevents cardiac drift or heart rate soaring out of control at the end of runs.

2. Run/walk allows you to build your endurance. You can add 1 or 2 9/1 segments each week.

3. Run/walk allows you to take nutrition and hydration during the 1 min walk. This can replicate Ironman aid stations and train the body to absorb these nutrients during racing.

Read the last 3 on my website - bit.ly/runwalkblog

03/04/2026

In my clinic, I believe half of my job as physician and surgeon is to fully educate my patients on the benefits and risks of each surgery so we can go into the procedure with full understanding and trust.

I have a new series I'll be releasing starting this Friday on common questions for shoulder surgery, but today I wanted to cover just a few.

If you are a patient preparing for surgery, here are five important questions to ask your surgeon before shoulder surgery:�
1. What type of shoulder surgery are you recommending, and why? Understanding the specific procedure (e.g., rotator cuff repair, shoulder replacement) and the reason for it is key.�

2. What are the risks and potential complications? It's crucial to be aware of possible complications like infection, nerve damage, or issues with healing.�

3. What is the expected recovery time and rehabilitation process? Knowing how long it will take to recover and what physical therapy will involve helps you plan your post-surgery routine.�

4. What can I do to prepare for surgery to ensure the best outcome? Ask about pre-surgery exercises or lifestyle changes that can improve the surgery’s success.�

5. What are the long-term expectations for shoulder function? Understand how the surgery will impact your shoulder’s range of motion, strength, and overall function in the long term.�

These questions will help you prepare and set realistic expectations, which is CRUCIAL for surgery.

If you are experiencing shoulder pain, come see me! bit.ly/mooseherring

02/27/2026

New video on recovery. There’s always a lot of curiosity around what training looks like at this stage of life.

As I’m getting closer to 60, the biggest shift hasn’t been intensity, it’s recovery. I’m not afraid of hard sessions, but I’m smarter about where I put them. I rarely run hard anymore. Instead, I push my heart rate with rowing, SkiErg, or riding. It gives me the stimulus without the daily impact.

I’ve also accepted that I simply can’t handle running hard every single day. Cross training has become a bigger piece of the puzzle. More rowing. More SkiErg. More cycling. Less pounding.

Recovery now drives the schedule. It depends on how I feel. I’m prioritizing mobility and stretching instead of just stacking hard efforts.

And sleep is non-negotiable. In bed by 9. Up around 4 or 4:30 without an alarm. Seven to seven and a half hours consistently. We know sleep is the most powerful recovery tool we have.

The goal isn’t to train less. It’s to train smarter. Use intensity strategically, offload the impact, and give your body the recovery it needs so you can keep showing up strong for the long haul.

02/20/2026

Running is an incredible exercise that can lead to long-term physical and mental health. It’s also a great way to see the world and explore your surroundings.

For some of us, running is an addiction that keeps us “balanced”. In my world as an orthopedic surgeon and endurance athlete, I have learned several key points about healthy running.

Building run fitness is essential to perform at my best, minimize injury risk, and achieve my race goals. It contributes significantly to overall race performance and enhances the triathlon experience.

Here are 4 points to build run fitness:
1. Start slow and build with a plan.
2. Running steady is the majority and most important part of run fitness.
3. When you add in harder runs use the progression from tempo to hard to very hard. Make sure you give your body more rest with increased effort.
4. On your defined easy days, find a “cross train” exercise that is low impact. Your aging joints will be much happier!

Happy Healthy Running!

02/18/2026

It’s been a busy week in the OR, and during weeks like this I’m especially thankful for the team around me!

They know what I need, often before I even ask, and everything runs smoother because of it. From prepping cases to staying locked in throughout surgery, they make it easier for me to focus on taking care of patients.

There’s truly no surgeon without a great team behind him. I’m grateful to have a group I can rely on every day, especially when things get busy.

Come see us: book an appointment at bit.ly/mooseherring

02/16/2026

Susan Gaible came to us with a severe injury to her rotator cuff. She was devastated because her passion and work is pottery. With this injury, she could not do her work. We define “athlete” as someone who sets a goal of return, and then works toward that goal. She was devoted and diligent about her physical therapy following surgery.

She was ecstatic this week when she returned saying, “Thank you, Dr. Herring! I wedged 25 pounds of clay and made 14 bowls. My first wheel-thrown bowl was perfectly centered. SUCCESS!! I’m thrilled! Stop by , A Working Clay Studio in Richmond, Virginia’s Shockoe Bottom to see some amazing work from all 30 artists. I’m BACK in the studio!”

Congratulations, Susan! Well done! Getting people back in action makes my job awesome!

02/12/2026

How can you tell if a rotator cuff tear might be behind your shoulder pain?

A lot of people notice soreness that feels worse at night or when reaching overhead, along with weakness when lifting the arm or doing everyday things. Stiffness and limited range of motion are common too, and some people feel popping or grinding with movement. You may also have mild swelling or tenderness around the shoulder.

To figure out what’s going on, we'll usually start with a hands-on exam to check strength and movement, then may use imaging like X-rays to rule out other issues and an MRI to get a clear look at the tendon. If surgery is the right move, it’s typically done with small incisions using a tiny camera and tools to reattach the tendon back to the bone.

Recovery usually moves through three phases over about 12 weeks, starting with protecting the shoulder, then gradually building strength and getting back to normal movement.

If your shoulder has been bothering you and you want to talk it through, book an appointment: bit.ly/mooseherring

02/09/2026

Several people have asked me my thoughts on 's injury over the past few days, so I decided to write a full blog on it.

Lindsey Vonn is one of the greatest winter athletes of all time. She was on an amazing six-year comeback after having a partial total knee on the right knee. She was in great form. She had been the circuit’s leading downhiller this season with two victories and three podiums.

Unfortunately, she suffered a fall during the last World Cup event and tore her ACL in her left knee. She reassessed her situation with her team and decided to compete in the Olympics that would start one week later. I have received many texts about this situation that ranged from amazement to criticizing to questioning if it was real. Here is my statement as an orthopedic sports medicine physician and athlete.

Lindsey Vonn is one of the most gritty, courageous, driven athletes of our generation. She has trained, raced, won, and failed with incredible success during her career. She has surrounded herself with family, coaches, and a medical team that support her passion. She was on an incredible comeback at the age of 41 from a partial total knee. She now had an ACL tear that was a significant setback.

She and her team decided to race. Physicians, therapists, and skiers have no right to question this decision. We have no idea the pain, the work, and the grind she endured during her career. We have no idea what the incredible Lindsey Vonn can do. Very few can fathom the grit, drive, and determination that are portrayed as her winner’s mindset. I personally cannot imagine the courage she showed standing at the top of that steep downhill course with her Olympic dream, knowing she had just torn her ACL. She did fall during her first run.

Thank you, Lindsey, for showing us incredible courage, drive, and determination that make a winner’s mindset. Congratulations to Breezy Johnson for the gold medal win. Four years ago on this mountain, she tore her ACL and was knocked out of the Beijing Olympics — another example of courage, fortitude, and grit.

Read the full post: https://bit.ly/lindseyvonnblog

Photograph by Julian Finney / Getty

Address

7858 Shrader Road
Richmond, VA
23294

Telephone

+18042701305

Website

https://linktr.ee/mooseherringmd

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