ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Doctors are addressing a disturbing national trend in young athletes. They’ve treated a growing number of arm injuries in athletes, many of whom are baseball or softball players who must undergo ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction, better known as "Tommy John surgery," to repair the damage.

Efforts are underway at the University of Rochester Medical Center geared at preventing arm injuries in young athletes. 

Three days a week, Braedon Reina works out at URMC’s Center for Human Athleticism and Musculoskeletal Performance and Prevention. The Churchville-Chili baseball player notices a difference.  

“I'm just noticing the ball coming off my back quicker,” said Reina. “The ball comes out of my hand quicker and moving faster.”

But it’s not just performance. The drills are prevention for a growing number of arm injuries in young athletes — like the kind that two of his teammates suffered this year.

“The two guys on my team are two of my best buddies,” he said. “And it just hurts to watch them because you want them out there next to you.”

Dr. Mike Maloney is a University of Rochester professor of sports medicine and orthopedics and director of CHAMPP.  

“The force generated with every pitch maximally is enough to cause that ligament to fail,” said Maloney. “Just one pitch [is enough].”

Maloney treats arm injuries in athletes and says the numbers have been steadily increasing. He says a combination of overuse, poor mechanics and a focus on velocity and spin rates is adding to the problem.

“They've created this environment where these young athletes feel like there's a pressure to train [and] to throw hard,” he said. "And that's unfortunately why we're seeing more and more of these injuries.”

Greece Athena pitcher Connor Osier hopes to prevent that as he gets set to play college ball at the University of Houston.

“We just try to build our speed, strength and other stuff like that,” said Osier. “So we don't break down throughout the season, and just get stronger.”

CHAMPP delivers a holistic approach to sports training and injury prevention.

“We do a lot of strength and conditioning, but keeping in mind, not just to increase their performance, but also reduce injury,” said Conner Lorenzo, UR Fitness Science director of operations. “What are the stresses that they're going to be put under, and how can we withstand those to keep them healthy throughout their season.”

Maloney says some parents and athletes have even asked about Tommy John surgery as an elective surgery to improve performance, after seeing so many professional athletes return to top form and better after having the elbow operation.

“And unfortunately, that's just not true,” said Maloney. “And I try to soften that blow and say 'we can't make it as good as God made it the first time.'”

Prevention, he said, is the best medicine.

“Talent can only take you so far,” said Osier. “The workouts really put you over the edge and make you what you really want to be.”