Grant H. Garcia, MD

12/24/2025

What Causes Infraspinatus Pain and How Can You Treat It?

The infraspinatus muscle works alongside three other rotator cuff muscles to stabilize and move the shoulder. This triangular-shaped structure primarily externally rotates the arm. This means it rotates the arm toward the outside of the body. It also assists with moving the scapula (shoulder blade)....

12/22/2025

🔥 Real Results. Real Patients. Real Comebacks. 🔥

This mid-50s, highly active patient came to us with severe shoulder dysfunction that had failed prior treatments and was limiting his ability to work, train, and enjoy life.

After undergoing a Lower Trapezius Transfer with Arthrex instrumentation, his results speak for themselves. 💪

✅ Improved strength

✅ Restored overhead function

✅ Less pain

✅ Confidence back in his shoulder

The Lower Trapezius Transfer can be a game-changing option for the right
patient with irreparable rotator cuff pathology who wants to stay active
and avoid more invasive solutions.

🎥 Watch his full video testimonial to hear his story—in his own words—and see what’s possible when the right procedure meets the right patient.

https://youtu.be/gmQmHxuEnDw

👉 Struggling with shoulder weakness or failed rotator cuff surgery?

👉 Wondering if you still have options besides a shoulder replacement?

Click the video, learn what’s possible, and reach out to see if this
procedure could be right for you.

Link for more information:

https://www.grantgarciamd.com/lower-trapezius-transfer-shoulder-knee-sports-surgeon-seattle-bellevue-everett-kirkland-wa.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gmQmHxuEnDw





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12/22/2025

Happy Holidays! We wish you and your family a joyful holiday season!

12/19/2025

How to protect young athletes from ACL tears, other knee injuries.

The season ending knee injuries of top South Florida professional athletes Tyreek Hill and Alexander Barkov have many thinking about how to protect younger athletes from suffering similar ailments.

12/17/2025

***Elbow Blog #18 **⚠️*

Understanding Complications in UCL Reconstruction: What You Need to Know**

While 𝐔𝐂𝐋 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 (𝐓𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐲 𝐉𝐨𝐡𝐧 𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐲) remains one of the most successful procedures in sports medicine—especially for overhead throwers—it’s not without potential challenges. As the procedure continues to evolve, it’s important for athletes, coaches, families, and even surgeons to understand the 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥 complications we watch for and how we work to prevent them.

This week’s video highlights several key considerations during reconstruction and what can contribute to problems down the road. 🎥
———————————————

🔍* The Most Important Complications to Understand*

𝟏️ 𝐓𝐮𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐥 𝐖𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 & 𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐟𝐭 𝐋𝐨𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠

One of the most underestimated issues. Micro-motion inside the bone tunnels can lead to widening, weaker fixation, and delayed biologic healing. This is why graft tensioning, tunnel size, and fixation method matter more than ever.

𝟐️ 𝐔𝐥𝐧𝐚𝐫 𝐍𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐞 𝐈𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐫 𝐍𝐞𝐮𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐲

Even with meticulous technique, the ulnar nerve can become irritated due to scarring, traction during throwing, or graft placement. Early recognition is key to preventing long-term symptoms.

𝟑️ 𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐟𝐭 𝐅𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐨𝐫 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐮𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠

Though uncommon, graft breakdown can occur—especially with early return to high-velocity throwing or poor biologic integration. Modern biologics and improved tunnel design aim to reduce this risk.

𝟒️ 𝐋𝐨𝐬𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐌𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 (𝐒𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐟𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬)

Scar formation, protective guarding, or improper rehab can lead to flexion or extension deficits.

A structured, progressive rehab program is critical to maintaining motion without overstressing the ligament.

𝟓️ 𝐌𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐄𝐥𝐛𝐨𝐰 𝐏𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐅𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐎𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐥𝐨𝐚𝐝

Sometimes the reconstruction is strong, but the athlete’s mechanics overload the medial elbow.

This is where 𝐩𝐢𝐭𝐜𝐡 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐬, 𝐛𝐢𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐬, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐥𝐨𝐚𝐝 𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 are just as important as the surgery itself.

🧬* The Good News: We’re Getting Better Every Year*

What excites me most is how the field is responding:

– 𝐒𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐫, 𝐬𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐮𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐥𝐬 to minimize widening – 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐝 𝐟𝐢𝐱𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐬𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐬 that increase graft stability – 𝐓𝐚𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐢𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐢𝐜𝐬 to enhance tendon-to-bone healing – 𝐑𝐞𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐡𝐚𝐛 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐨𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐬 tailored to throwing athletes – 𝐁𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐝𝐢𝐚𝐠𝐧𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐬 to identify early warning signs before they become major problems

Understanding complications isn’t about creating fear—it’s about improving outcomes, educating athletes, and driving innovation in how we approach UCL surgery. 💪⚾

🎥
𝐑𝐞𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐕𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐨

A quick breakdown of complications during UCL reconstruction and why
surgical precision and technique refinement are critical for avoiding them.

https://youtu.be/nuiXX02vy2c

12/17/2025

Aerobic exercise found to be most effective for knee osteoarthritis.

For patients with knee osteoarthritis, aerobic activities such as walking, cycling, or swimming are likely to be the best exercise for improving pain, function, gait performance, and quality of life, finds a study published by The BMJ today.

12/16/2025

🚀 Next-gen ACL Repair is HERE

Huge shoutout to this 58-year-old patient who just crushed recovery after
an ACL repair + InternalBrace® augmentation 🦵⚙️

This is where sports medicine is heading ➜ preserve the native ligament
when possible and reinforce it with advanced fiber-tape technology
instead of automatically removing & replacing.

🔬✨ Innovation in real life.

Her testimonial says it best:

“I can’t believe how quickly my knee felt stable again. I thought ACL
problems at my age would mean a huge surgery — but this was fast, solid,
and I’m already back to my normal activities.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7zMqfUB0I1w

🔥 This is why ACL preservation is so exciting:

→ Less tissue removal

→ Faster recovery for the right tear pattern

→ Strong internal support with the InternalBrace®

→ More anatomic + more biologic

We’re pushing ACL care forward — one patient at a time.

— Grant Garcia, MD

Sports Medicine | Orthopedic Specialists of Seattle

🔧 🧵 🧠



🎙️

12/12/2025

🚨 Turf Toe: Why a “Minor” Toe Injury Can Limit Elite Performance 🚨

“Turf toe” sounds minor — but for athletes, it can be anything but.

This injury is a sprain of the big toe MTP joint, a critical structure for push-off, acceleration, and cutting. When overlooked or undertreated, turf toe can quietly limit explosiveness, delay return to play, and in some cases become career-altering.

🎥 Watch the 60-second breakdown:

▶️ https://youtube.com/shorts/7HG4x6wq4cc?si=W8JnB4-0fP-kjVC8

Clip summary:

In this short video, we explain that turf toe is not just “toe pain,” but a
ligament injury to the big toe joint that athletes rely on for power and
stability. Even low-grade injuries can significantly affect sprinting,
cutting, and push-off. Early recognition matters — untreated turf toe can
progress, prolong recovery, and compromise performance.

Key takeaways:

• Turf toe is a ligament injury, not a bruise

• It directly impacts speed, explosiveness, and change of direction

• Early diagnosis and proper management are critical for return to play

This is essential knowledge for athletes, coaches, parents, and clinicians
focused on performance and injury prevention.

🎧 Full Sports Doc Talk episodes:

Apple | https://lnkd.in/gDZFtQrr

YouTube | https://lnkd.in/gzNshGtV

Spotify | https://lnkd.in/gm6CxZnV

William Sanchez

Grant Garcia, MD

🤝 Brought to you by The Recovery Shop — post-surgical rehab and DME
solutions supporting safe return to play.

🌐 shop-recovery.net

https://youtube.com/shorts/7HG4x6wq4cc?si=W8JnB4-0fP-kjVC8

12/12/2025

What Happens to Your Body When You Play Tennis Regularly.

Research shows tennis may extend lifespan and improve heart health, bone strength, mobility, and social connection. While injuries, cost, and access can be drawbacks, experts agree that tennis provides broad health benefits.

12/10/2025

***Elbow Blog #17 **🚀*

Advancing UCL Reconstruction: The Future Is Smaller, Smarter Tunnels ⚾🔬**

UCL reconstruction continues to evolve, and even with the long-standing success of the docking technique, we’re entering an exciting era of
refinement. As throwers push biomechanics harder than ever, it’s clear that the future hinges on one major advancement:

👉 Smaller, more biologically friendly tunnels with stronger, more stable
fixation.

In this week’s case, I highlighted key steps for optimizing humeral docking tunnels and avoiding tunnel widening—one of the most important challenges
in modern UCL surgery. The video below shows how subtle adjustments can dramatically improve graft stability and long-term outcomes. 🎥

Why Smaller Tunnels Matter **🦴⬇️

Shrinking tunnel diameter without sacrificing fixation strength is becoming a major research and development focus. Benefits include:

– 🔹 Reduced graft micromotion → less tunnel widening – 🔹 Improved tendon-to-bone contact for better biologic healing – 🔹 More bone preservation, especially valuable in revisions – 🔹 New fixation strategies designed for low-profile, high-strength stability
These refinements are designed to create a more durable construct that can handle today’s throwing demands—95+ mph fastballs, year-round competition, and accelerated return-to-play timelines.

What’s Coming Down the Pipeline **🔥

Innovation across sports medicine is moving fast:

🧪 Biologic augmentation to enhance the tendon-bone interface

🔩 Next-generation small-tunnel fixation systems engineered for strength and reduced micro-motion

📐 Precision tunnel planning & imaging tools to optimize biomechanics

🛡️ Hybrid reconstruction + internal brace concepts to offload early stress

All signs point toward a future where UCL reconstructions are stronger, more reproducible, and increasingly minimally invasive, while still rooted in the reliability of the docking technique.

🎥 Reference Video

https://youtube.com/shorts/YRHCfN8ezwQ

**Elbow Blog #17 🚀Advancing UCL Reconstruction: The Future Is Smaller, Smarter Tunnels ⚾🔬**UCL reconstruction continues to evolve, and even with the long-s...

12/10/2025

Q&A: How sports-related concussions affect reaction times.

When playing sports, it's important to remember: Brains don't have seat belts. When rapid acceleration or deceleration of the brain inside the skull occurs with a blow to the head, a concussion happens, which in some cases can lead to lasting impacts on motor and cognitive skills needed to keep athl...

12/09/2025

🚀 Game-Changing Tip for Osteotomy Procedures 🦴

Just dropped a new Tips & Tricks video on one of the most underrated — yet truly transformative — tools in the OR: the Arthrex Trimano Leg Holder.

This has become a must-have setup for my osteotomy cases, and here’s why 👇

🔹 Superior Protection of the Neurovascular Bundle

The Trimano allows for stable, reproducible positioning that opens up the field and gives you safer, more controlled access — dramatically reducing the risk around the neurovascular structures.

🔹 Effortless Fluoro/X-Ray Access

The positioning is optimized for clean imaging without constant
repositioning. Faster, smoother, and far fewer interruptions in workflow.

🔹 Hands-Free Efficiency = Smaller Team Needed

By securely maintaining leg position, the Trimano eliminates the need for multiple assistants and allows your team to focus on what matters most: precision and ex*****on.

🔹 Enhanced Exposure for Precise Cuts & Planning

Consistent traction and alignment make it easier to execute the osteotomy with accuracy and confidence.

This tool has been a total game changer in my practice — especially when dealing with complex realignments.

🎥 Check out the video to see exactly how I set this up and why it’s become a critical part of my osteotomy workflow.

https://youtu.be/c7ml7p3MGUs


https://www.grantgarciamd.com/media-and-news-shoulder-knee-sports-surgeon-seattle-bellevue-everett-kirkland-wa.html

🚀 Game-Changing Tip for Osteotomy Procedures 🦴Just dropped a new Tips & Tricks video on one of the most underrated — yet truly transformative — tools in th...