Cortisone Injections for Runners: Yea or Nay?
Cortisone is a corticosteroid anti-inflammatory delivered through an injection that goes directly to the site of inflammation in your body.
A Shot at a Full Comeback: How One Soccer Player Beat the Dreaded ACL Injury
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.
What Is Tommy John Surgery?
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.
Stories of Resilience with Dr. Connor & Kevin Donnalley
In this episode of "Stories of Resilience" with the Carolina Panthers, offensive guard Kevin Donnalley & Dr. Connor discuss his 2002 ACL tear.
Stories of Resilience with Dr. Connor & Mike Rucker
In this episode of "Stories of Resilience" with the Carolina Panthers, defensive end Mike Rucker & Dr. Connor discuss his 2006 ACL tear.
Stories of Resilience with Dr. Connor & Jordan Gross
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.
Stories of Resilience with Dr. Connor & Jake Delhomme
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.
Telemedicine Video Visits Now Available
Have a video visit with your doctor today!
Shoulder Impingement: What It Is and How to Fix It
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.
Behind the Scenes at Panthers Training Camp
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.
Insights From Panthers Training Camp with the Head Team Physician
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.
Panthers team physician Pat Connor has performed crucial surgeries. But one repair in his career stands out.
The Athletic recently interviewed OrthoCarolina surgeon and Carolina Panthers Head Team Physician Dr. Patrick Connor.
OrthoCarolina Physicians Win 2019 Top Doctor Honors
OrthoCarolina physicians were honored for their premier patient care receiving Charlotte magazine Top Doctor awards.
ACL Tears for Women - Why Female Soccer Players Are 6 Times More Likely to Become Injured
Sports medicine specialist Margaret Lynch, PA-C, joins FOX 46 to discuss to the commonality of ACL tears and how to prevent them.
I Chose to Become a Doctor Because...
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.
Six Things We Learned About the NFL Combine from the Panthers’ Head Team Physician
The medical knowledge gleaned from the NFL Combine (which itself was started by physicians) will inform the draft.
What are the benefits of arthroscopic surgery?
Less invasive than traditional "open" surgery, arthroscopy can evaluate, diagnose and treat many joint conditions.
What are the symptoms of bicep tendinitis?
Bicep tendinitis is the inflammation of the upper bicep tendon and those who experience it often complain of shoulder pain.
An Interview with Dr. Pat Connor - the Carolina Panthers Head Team Physician
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.
Medical Breakthroughs at OrthoCarolina
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.
17 OrthoCarolina Physicians Named Charlotte magazine Top Doctor
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.
Research Begins To End Opiod Abuse
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.
OrthoCarolina launches study looking to limit opioid use
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.
What’s the Latest Treatment for Rotator Cuff Injuries?
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.
Orthopedic surgeon leader to know: Dr. James Fleischli of OrthoCarolina
He serves as head team physician for the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and as an orthopedic physician for several NASCAR teams.
OrthoCarolina's Aaron Hewitt: Small Steps to Big Life Changes
Approximately eight years ago, Aaron Hewitt, physician assistant manager at OrthoCarolina’s Sports Medicine Center, experienced what he calls his “aha moment.”
Group Running Drills: How Can They Help You?
Plus, three drills to try on your own
Pre-Run Warm-Up: How to Properly Get Your Body Prepared to Run
Warming up your body properly can increase running performance and reduce the chance of injury.
Meet Aaron. OC Loves to Run
Aaron Hewitt, Physician Assistant - Sports Medicine, Cartilage Restoration
Ten Things to Know about Being a Physician to an NFL Team
Dr. Patrick Connor, Head Team Physician of the Carolina Panthers, offers his perspective
How recovering from an ACL tear is as much mental as it is physical: Warren’s Story
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...
Cortisone and Healing - An overview of the science
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.
CrossFit Injuries: The Big Ones
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.
Royal H. Burpee Was a Real Person
And Where Burpees Come From
Females and CrossFit
Strength training is so often ignored by females.
Why I Used to Grunt When Putting on my Socks
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 Movement and CrossFit
Functional movements sound complicated but they’re just natural, compound body movements that use multiple joints in your body.
High-Intensity Exercise Part II: Some common injuries
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.
High-Intensity Exercise Part I: When it comes to exercise, can less actually be more?
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.
So what exactly is CrossFit? I hear that quite a lot...
CrossFit seems to be everywhere yet still mystifies so many people.
OrthoCarolina Sports Medicine Center
Our Sports Medicine Center of Excellence