COULD IGNORING INJURIES COME BACK & BITE YOU?

Source: NESN.com

In late 2017, our star right fielder, Aaron Judge, underwent shoulder surgery.  When we learned that Judge would in fact have arthroscopic surgery on his left, non-throwing shoulder, we all held our breath.  We hadn't seen the likes of a player like Judge in years and the thought of him injured worried us.  And although he and the Yankees are taking things easy, Judge ignored the injury for sometime.  Ignoring injuries could come back and bite you, as many attribute Judge's injury to his participation in the All Star Home Run Derby.

Source: USA Today

According to Forbes contributor Joshua Dines, a sports medicine specialist at Hospital for Special Surgery, "Loose bodies in the shoulder are typically fragments of cartilage that have broken off the from the end of the humerus. Sometimes these fragments break off during a traumatic event such as a direct hit to the area or if one dislocates their shoulder."  Dines goes on to say, "In my opinion, the best case scenario would be that this was due to one event and it was just a small, isolated piece of cartilage that broke off."

Source: Yahoo Sports

Judge's shoulder surgery was done by Los Angeles Dodgers' team doctor, Neal ElAttrache.  The interesting thing is that Dodgers' star short stop, Corey Seager, was advised not to have surgery on his burning, nagging elbow which along with his back, caused the infielder to sit for 10 days and appear rusty when re-inserted into the lineup late in the season.  Dodgers' fans are worried, much like we were and continue to be.  Is this something we are going to continue to see in our young players, vying for a spot on a major league roster?

Source: The Daily Herald

"Injuries in young athletes are on the rise, but elbow and shoulder injuries in children are on the verge of becoming an epidemic. Thousands of children are seen each year complaining of elbow or shoulder pain. Damage or tear to the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) is the most common injury suffered and is often caused by pitchers throwing too much. This ligament is the main stabilizer of the elbow for the motions of pitching. When it becomes damaged, it can be difficult to repair and rehabilitate," according to the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine.

Source: Houston Chronicle

Hitting and throwing, foundations of the sport of baseball, continuously, without proper rest or rehabilitation, can be the downfall of many young players, causing them to leave the game prematurely or be bounced around from team to team.

Source: Sporting News

According to contributing writer for Forbes, Howard Cole, a Los Angeles-based sports writer, "We’re talking about a young shortstop – the crown jewel of a freshly-rebuilt and proud minor league system – with a balky elbow late one season and into another. The notion of surgery was floated last fall, with kid gloves the course of action this spring.  His first start in the field is next Monday if all goes well. For five innings, in a minor league game. And an appearance with the big club two days later. Maybe. Los Angeles is holding its collective breath, with crossed fingers all the way around. Because they really don’t know about their starting shortstop."  The article continues with the notion that Los Angeles might have to look to the free agent market for a worthy replacement...leaving Seager for dead?

Source: Orange County Register

Ignoring injuries could come back and bite you but claiming them could also put you in jeopardy for a baseball career with no apparent home, or rather a transient one.  As I am forever reminded by my trainers and mentors, "Thank your body for the gift of movement," I am grateful that after I press publish on this post, I will head out for a 14 mile run, because I can today.  I am hopeful that Judge and Seager and the countless others who battle through injuries continue to have a baseball home, at least for the next several years.  And until they have completed the baseball career they have always imagined.

--Suzie Pinstripe
BYB Managing Editor
Twitter: @suzieprof