Shoulder & Elbow Center Media

Cortisone is a corticosteroid anti-inflammatory delivered through an injection that goes directly to the site of inflammation in your body.

Female athletes have been known to have a higher risk of injuring their anterior cruciate ligament, or ACL, while participating in competitive sports. McKaley Boston knows that pain all too well. This is her comeback story.

Notorious in baseball players, Tommy John injuries, or Ulnar Collateral Ligament (UCL) injuries, can cause significant pain, decreased strength and mobility loss. There are two surgical options available for athletes who suffer from a Tommy John ligament injury.

In this episode of "Stories of Resilience" with the Carolina Panthers,  offensive guard Kevin Donnalley & Dr. Connor discuss his 2002 ACL tear.

In this episode of "Stories of Resilience" with the Carolina Panthers, defensive end Mike Rucker & Dr. Connor discuss his 2006 ACL tear.

Years after shattering his right leg, Carolina Panthers Hall of Famer Jordan Gross shares how OrthoCarolina's Dr. Pat Connor played a crucial part in his recovery.

In this first episode of "Stories of Resilience" with the Carolina Panthers, we take it back to the Jake Delhomme era. Hear about the play that forced him off the field & his incredible return to QB stardom.

Have a video visit with your doctor today!

Just above your rotator cuff, you have a fluid-filled sac called a bursa. The job of the bursa is to provide a cushion between tendons and bones. Bursa can become inflamed which can cause pain.

National Football League (NFL) games are exciting, and they can be brutal. No matter how coordinated and logistical the plays, the naturally aggressive nature of the sport leaves athletes at constant risk of injury.

Going into his twenty-third season with the Carolina Panthers, Head Team Physician Dr. Patrick Connor gives some insight into what happened during the offseason.

The Athletic recently interviewed OrthoCarolina surgeon and Carolina Panthers Head Team Physician Dr. Patrick Connor.

OrthoCarolina physicians were honored for their premier patient care receiving Charlotte magazine Top Doctor awards.

Sports medicine specialist Margaret Lynch, PA-C, joins FOX 46 to discuss to the commonality of ACL tears and how to prevent them.

For many physicians, taking care of others is their life’s work and the ultimate calling. In honor of Doctors’ Day on March 30, we asked our doctors why they chose the medical field.

The medical knowledge gleaned from the NFL Combine (which itself was started by physicians) will inform the draft. 

Less invasive than traditional "open" surgery, arthroscopy can evaluate, diagnose and treat many joint conditions.

Bicep tendinitis is the inflammation of the upper bicep tendon and those who experience it often complain of shoulder pain.

The commotion and action on the sidelines on any given Carolina Panthers game day can make it difficult to spot Dr. Pat Connor, but he’s there.

Explore pioneering medical breakthroughs changing our lives and meet the doctors behind them. On the front lines of your health are tales of desperation, determination and human triumph-from a safer way to manage pain after surgery to groundbreaking techniques that make surgery unnecessary.

Each year, Charlotte magazine releases a list of Top Doctors in Charlotte and we're proud to have 17 OrthoCarolina providers represented as the best in the city.

OrthoCarolina and OrthoCarolina Research Institute is focusing on combining existing drugs and techniques already used for pain reduction to ultimately create 100% opioid-free, and addiction-free, pain management regimens.

The first study of its kind is launching this month to look at completely removing opioids as a pain treatment for patients. Instead, doctors will be using other less addictive medicines in the study.

Rotator cuff tendon tears affect more than four million people annually in the U.S. and are the most common source of shoulder pain and disability. Dr. Patrick Connor of the OrthoCarolina Sports Medicine Center, team physician to the Carolina Panthers, is pioneering the use of a breakthrough technology designed as a new option for millions of people suffering from rotator cuff tendon tears in the shoulder joint.

He serves as head team physician for the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and as an orthopedic physician for several NASCAR teams.

Approximately eight years ago, Aaron Hewitt, physician assistant manager at OrthoCarolina’s Sports Medicine Center, experienced what he calls his “aha moment.”

Plus, three drills to try on your own

Warming up your body properly can increase running performance and reduce the chance of injury.

Aaron Hewitt, Physician Assistant - Sports Medicine, Cartilage Restoration

Dr. Patrick Connor, Head Team Physician of the Carolina Panthers, offers his perspective

When an athlete gets injured, we tend to focus on the physical aspects: What was hurt, the surgery, and when can the athlete get back on the field or court...

There is no denying that cortisone reduces pain and swelling. Because of that a lot of cortisone shots have been given to help people healing from joint injuries. But just because you get immediate pain relief doesn’t mean it’s helps your joint heal.

As a medical provider who sees a lot of CrossFit patients (and is a CrossFitter as well), I'm frequently asked about shoulder and knee injuries.

And Where Burpees Come From

Strength training is so often ignored by females.

Four years ago, I was not healthy. I was eating pizza and burgers 3-4 times a week and drinking too much beer and soda. Sure, we like to indulge sometimes, but I was not healthy. I peaked at 190 pounds, which is a lot for me, after a Christmas vacation with my buddies – and I felt depressed about my overall health.

Functional movements sound complicated but they’re just natural, compound body movements that use multiple joints in your body.

High-intensity interval training is typically done at around 80-95% of your maximal aerobic capacity. It’s important to start slow and progress bit by bit when participating in HIIT training or any type of intense exercise.

You've likely heard of high-intensity interval training (HIIT), a type of workout that isn't totally new, but is increasingly popular and can be confusing because there are so many types.

CrossFit seems to be everywhere yet still mystifies so many people.

Our Sports Medicine Center of Excellence