Sports Medicine & Shoulder Care

It doesn't matter if you're an elite athlete or a weekend warrior, sports injuries happen. Our exceptional team of sports medicine and shoulder surgeons know this and are prepared to treat the full scope of sports-related conditions and injuries.


  • Conditions Treated/Clinical Services Provided

    • Arthroscopic rotator cuff repair and shoulder stabilization
    • Shoulder replacement surgery, including reverse shoulder replacement
    • Shoulder impingement
    • Arthroscopic knee surgery, meniscal surgery and ACL reconstruction
    • Bursitis
    • Elbow problems, including tennis elbow surgery, nerve disorders, tendon disorders/tears, fractures and instability
    • PRP therapy and orthobiologics
    • Fracture care

Our Clinical Team

A group of advanced practice providers—Jake D'Antonio, PA-C, Natalie Llewellyn, PA-C, and Jason Vasses, PA-C—work with the Sports Medicine & Shoulder Care Team physicians to assist them during surgery and office hours. The advanced practice providers also see patients for pre- and postoperative care and follow-up patient appointments.

Dr. Richmond treats patients in our North Hills and Slippery Rock offices as well as the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex. He operates at UPMC Passavant Hospital-McCandless and Butler Memorial Hospital. 

Dr. Szabo treats patients in our Butler-Clearview and Cranberry/Mars offices as well as the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex. He operates at Butler Memorial Hospital and UPMC Passavant Hospital-Cranberry in addition to The Surgery Center at Benbrook.

Dr. Waltrip treats patients in our BHS Crossroads Campus and Cranberry/Mars office as well as the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex. He operates at both Butler Memorial Hospital and UPMC Passavant Hospital-Cranberry.

FAQs

Got a question? We’re here to help.

  • What are first steps in diagnosing a shoulder problem?

    To diagnose the cause of shoulder pain, your doctor will ask you about your symptoms and conduct a physical examination to check for tenderness, weakness, instability and loss of mobility. An X-ray or MRI may be needed to determine the extent of the damage.

    Once the cause of the shoulder pain has been identified, an exercise program or steroid injections may be tried as conservative treatment before surgical intervention is pursued.

  • What are some conservative treatment options?

    Shoulder pain and loss of mobility are sometimes caused by minor injuries that heal easily with self-help measures, such as resting, placing ice on the affected area and using over-the-counter medications to reduce pain and swelling. In some people, however, the pain and loss of mobility may be persistent, recurrent or severe.

  • When should you see a doctor?

    Symptoms of a shoulder problem that require medication intervention include:

    • pain that radiates over the shoulder and into the arm
    • pain that awakens you from sleep
    • weakness or an inability to move the shoulder or arm
    • stiffness, swelling or popping of the joint
    • pain that becomes sharper during movements, such as pushing, pulling and reaching overhead

    Because most cases of shoulder pain will continue to progress until treated, it is important to seek medical intervention early.

Make your musculoskeletal health a priority!

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