Richard Cunningham, MD

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 [...]

The town is buzzing with excitement over the recent snowfall here in the Vail Valley! While we wish everyone a safe winter season, with just 52 days until the opening of Vail Mountain, we want our winter enthusiasts to be informed about ACL injury and what to expect if you experience a forceful twisting [...]

Knee dislocations are a rare but very serious injury. In a knee dislocation, the hinge joint of the knee, made up by the thigh bone (femur) articulating on the shin bone (the tibia) is disrupted. In order for the knee joint to dislocate, at least two major ligaments about the knee must tear and [...]

An arthritic knee can be extremely limiting to any active person. Hiking can become a chore, running can lose all its fun and getting on the hill to ski can be regrettable for days after taking off the boots. As with any pain, most people will turn to the classic remedies: rest, ice, compression [...]