Ronak Mukesh Patel - Orthopedic Surgeon & Sports Medicine Specialist

11/21/2025

A pectoral tendon injury happens when the pectoralis major tendon—the tendon that attaches your chest muscle to the upper arm—is partially or completely torn. Common causes:
· Sports activities
· Weightlifting
· Sudden force on the chest/shoulder

Partial tears affect the sternal head, while complete tears affect both the sternal and clavicular heads of the muscle.

What is a pectoralis major tendon injury? The pectoralis major and pectoralis minor are large fan-shaped muscles that line the chest wall. Both the pectoralis major and pectoralis minor muscles are responsible for strengthening and stabilizing the shoulder when lifting heavy objects. The pectoralis....

11/19/2025

The truth about post-workout recovery! 🏋️‍♂️

A sports medicine doctor & exercise physiologist review 6 popular methods: foam rolling, ice baths, stretching, and more to see what actually works.

A sports medicine doctor and an exercise physiologist dissect the science behind your favorite post-workout routine

11/18/2025

A chronic hamstring injury, or hamstring tendinopathy, occurs when repetitive use inflames the hamstring tendons attached to the “sitting bones.”

Over time, the tendons can thicken, tear, and cause gradual pain that impacts daily life. Early intervention through proper diagnosis, rehabilitation, and activity modification is essential for restoring function and preventing further injury.

What is a hamstring injury? The semitendinosus, semimembranosus, and biceps femoris are the three muscles that form the hamstring muscle group found along the posterior (back) thigh. This muscle group is utilized in many physical and athletic-related activities as it is responsible for flexing the k...

11/14/2025

Treatment for a hip abductor tear depends on severity:
1️⃣ Small tear → conservative care & physical therapy
2️⃣ Complete tear or failed conservative treatment → surgical repair
3️⃣ Chronic tears → tendon reconstruction with allograft

What is a hip abductor tear? The hip abductors are a group of four muscles that work collectively to perform hip abduction, or the movement of the leg away from the middle of the body. This muscle group includes the gluteus minimus, gluteus medius, gluteus maximus, and the tensor fascia lata which a...

11/13/2025

11/11/2025

This Veterans Day, Dr. Patel and the Fondren Orthopedic Group family want to honor and thank the brave men and women who have served our country. Your courage, dedication, and sacrifices allow us to live in freedom and safety every day. We are deeply grateful for your service and the sacrifices made by your families as well.

11/07/2025

Shoulder fracture repair recovery:
1️⃣ Immediate immobilization with a sling
2️⃣ Physical therapy starts 2–4 weeks post-surgery
3️⃣ Return to daily activities in ~3 months
4️⃣ Full shoulder movement continues to improve over time

What is a shoulder fracture? There are three bones that connect to form the shoulder girdle: the clavicle (collarbone), the scapula (shoulder blade), and the humerus (upper arm bone). When any one or more of these bones becomes broken, it results in a condition known as a shoulder fracture. The majo...

11/05/2025

$200M in buyouts…and coaches are still getting fired. Fans, what do you think: are programs making the right moves or just paying to hit reset?

There has already been a reported $169 million in buyouts this college football season. Joel Klatt shares why it's happening.

11/04/2025

Did you know your joints are lined with a tissue called the synovial membrane that reduces friction during movement? In some people, this lining produces excess fluid, causing inflammation and painful growths in the joint.

This is called pigmented villonodular synovitis (PVNS) which most commonly affects the knee and sometimes leading to joint damage or osteoarthritis.

What is pigmented villonodular synovitis - PVNS? All of the mobile joints of the body are lined with a thin layer of tissue (synovial membrane) that helps to reduce friction with joint movement through the secretion of a thick viscous fluid into the joint space. The synovial membrane in some individ...

10/31/2025

Small hip labrum tears can often be managed non-surgically with activity modification, NSAIDs, corticosteroid injections, and targeted physical therapy. Surgery may be necessary for severe tears or when non-surgical treatments fail, aiming to restore hip stability and function.

Learn more 👇

Get an Appointment with a Hip Labrum Surgeon The hip labrum is a fibrocartilagenous tissue that provides stability and works as a shock absorber when walking or moving. Patients that participate in activities that involve frequent twisting or pivoting are at an increased risk of tearing or damaging....

10/30/2025

Textbooks teach the science. Patients teach the art. 🩺

Shadowing, scribing, and volunteering help med students build the skills no lecture can cover...before clerkship even begins.

Though academics come first, shadowing, scribing, or volunteering in a free clinic can help medical students hone other vital skills before clerkship.