Richard Cunningham, MD

It’s hard to imagine suddenly losing sensation or muscle function or having extreme nerve pain occur without reason. Unfortunately, some nerve injuries or nerve abnormalities can happen without warning. Nerve palsies are rare but can be debilitating. Generally, nerves are injured due to a specific incident, such as a fracture or dislocation. However, nerve [...]

Mother Nature has called for one more snowy blast in Eagle and Summit Counties.  While Arapahoe Basin continues to reap the benefits of persistent snow accumulation for our ski and snowboard enthusiasts, the majority of Colorado ski resorts have shut down their lifts for the winter season.  In an area world renowned for winter [...]

Patellar instability and dislocations can plague both children and adults alike. The patella (kneecap) connects the muscles of the thigh to the tibia (shin bone). The patella should sits within a groove (trochlea) at the end of the thigh bone (femur). As the knee bends and straightens with sitting and standing, the patella should [...]

At the end of a long ski season, I see a large number of patients with overuse injuries and conditions. Patellar tendonitis is one such common condition seen in our athletic population. Common sports associated with this condition is skiing, basketball, volleyball,  gymnastics, or sports where there is a lot of jumping and landing. Another [...]

This past winter, I saw a large number of ACL tears. Anatomic ACL reconstruction surgery of the knee has been shown to improve knee kinematics, slow the progression of osteoarthritis in the knee, and allow athletes to return to sports without further giving way episodes of the knee. The risk of repeat injury to [...]

Dr. Cunningham contributed his insight in this recent article published in Summit Daily on kneehab and post-injury physician therapy. Link to Full Article: KneeHab: Why post-injury physical therapy is never optional, from torn ACL to sprained ankle

If you're a swimmer, you won't want to miss this article on 'swimmer's shoulder' authored by Dr. Cunningham and featured in Vail Daily News' Ask a Vail Sports Doc column. Full Article: Ask a Vail Sports Doc column: Dealing with ‘swimmer’s shoulder’

Dr. Cunningham shares his perspective in this recent article published in Summit Daily News. Full Article: KneeHab: Cadavar tissue, KAATSU and questions to ask before ACL surgery

Offering his expertise, Dr. Cunningham contributes to this recent article in Summit Daily News. Full Article: KneeHab: Anatomy of an ACL injury, from Grade I to Grade III

A “separated shoulder” is an injury to the acromioclavicular (AC) joint. The terminology can be confusing as there is the actual ball and socket joint of the shoulder (or glenohumeral joint). Rather, there is disruption of the AC joint, which is where the collarbone (or clavicle) and the highest point of the shoulder blade [...]

Mountain biking season may be winding down, but ski and snowboarding season has already begun. Clavicle fractures often result from these high-energy activities. Most commonly, clavicle (collarbone) fractures are a result of a direct blow to the shoulder.  Frequently, a fall over the handlebars of a bike or catching an edge on a snowboard [...]

Shoulder instability can be a frustrating and painful issue to deal with for athletes of all kinds. Often, younger athletes, especially males from age 18-25, or those participating in high-risk activities, are the most susceptible to shoulder subluxations or dislocations. Most commonly, athletes report to us that they fell forcefully on an outstretched hand [...]