Orthopedic & Sports Medicine
James M. Paci, MD joined the Orlin and Cohen Orthopedic Group as the Director of Orthopedic Surgery and Sports Medicine for Suffolk County in 2018 and is an Associate Professor of Orthopedic Surgery at the Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell. He is a board-certified sports medicine orthopedic surgeon specializing in the care of athletes and disorders of the shoulder, elbow and knee.
Dr. Paci named as 2015 - 2017 
A biceps tendon injury is a tear or rupture of connective tissue that connects the biceps muscle of the upper arm to bones at either the shoulder (proximal tendon) or elbow (distal tendon). Proximal tears are more common than distal tears and usually are the the result of chronic overuse or an acute injury, such as a direct blow to the shoulder or falling onto an outstretched arm.
A torn or ruptured pectoralis muscle can limit your ability to engage in normal work and recreational activities. It can limit arm use, and may cause significant pain. If you have ruptured or torn your pectoralis major muscle in your chest, you may benefit from physical therapy (PT) to help you recover.
Arm pain is generally experienced on the outside of the shoulder and can sometimes radiate further down toward the elbow. Causes of arm pain include overuse conditions, traumatic injuries, and other conditions that can lead to discomfort.
Shoulder aches and weakness put a crimp in routine activities from playing sports and carrying toddlers to hauling groceries and swinging hammers. Below, experts in strength and body mechanics offer tips on shoulder exercises to help you live well, function better and ultimately become stronger and free of shoulder pain.
The adverse side effects of the social isolation measures implemented to combat COVID-19 include an increase in sedentary behavior and physical inactivity, which can contribute to a deterioration in cardiovascular health even in the short term. Older people and people with chronic diseases tend to be most affected.
Scapular winging involves one or both shoulder blades sticking out from the back rather than lying flat. It can happen as a result of injury or nerve damage.
The rotator cuff muscles can be prone to inflammation and tears during overhead activities or due to wear and tear. An important way to reduce tears or rotator cuff injury is by strengthening these muscles.
Once you know you can safely exercise the main thing to remember is that you need to progress slowly. The 10 percent rule is a guideline many fitness experts use to help both experts and beginners avoid injury, yet they still see continual improvement in performance.
Tennis elbow, or lateral epicondylitis, develops when the forearm muscles that connect to the outside of your elbow become irritated. This can cause pain and tenderness that’s usually located on the outside (lateral) part of the elbow. There are several simple tests you can do to determine if you have tennis elbow. You can do most of these tests on your own, but a few do require the assistance of a doctor or medical professional.
While we don't know for sure how long our lifestyles will be affected in this way, we do know periods of reduced physical activity can affect our health. Older people and those with chronic conditions are particularly at risk.
