Why do trainers insist on diagnosing injuries?

[Bobie]

It seems some minor league trainers in particular are reluctant to let their players seek outside help for injuries - case in point:  Scott Robinson, Salem player injured early in the 2006 season.  My understanding is that the trainer insisted it was tendinitis and refused repeated requests for an "outside" opinion by an orthopedic surgeon.  Result was that Robinson was basically hitting one-handed, as left arm was extremely painful.  Astros released him, Robinson ended up having Tommy John surgery for a torn ligament and has recovered to the point he was the MVP and MOST OUTSTANDING HITTER in the SOuth Coast League, hitting .343 with 111 hits and 11 home runs.

There are many stories floating around about players whose injuries are misdiagnosed or undertreated by trainers - is there pressure from above for the trainers to be able to handle all injuries?  Is there some reward for them to keep the players on the field at all costs?

[MikeyBoy]

1) Welcome to the board Ms. Robinson.
2) Isn't the SCL an indy league?

[Bobie]

yes it is.

[Jacksonian]

It seems some minor league trainers in particular are reluctant to let their players seek outside help for injuries - case in point:  Scott Robinson, Salem player injured early in the 2006 season.  My understanding is that the trainer insisted it was tendinitis and refused repeated requests for an "outside" opinion by an orthopedic surgeon.  Result was that Robinson was basically hitting one-handed, as left arm was extremely painful.  Astros released him, Robinson ended up having Tommy John surgery for a torn ligament and has recovered to the point he was the MVP and MOST OUTSTANDING HITTER in the SOuth Coast League, hitting .343 with 111 hits and 11 home runs.

There are many stories floating around about players whose injuries are misdiagnosed or undertreated by trainers - is there pressure from above for the trainers to be able to handle all injuries?  Is there some reward for them to keep the players on the field at all costs?

So was he hurt for 03, 04, and 05?  Because he wasn't setting the leagues on fire in any of those years either.

But, good for him this year.

[Bobie]

Not on fire, but solid.  And not bad, considering he was drafted out of high school, so was often the youngest player on the teams.  In 2005 was Best Defensive First Baseman in the league (with Salem Avalanche) and 4th highest batting average, 2004 4th highest batting average with the Legends. 

The point is not that they released him.  Of course, they have to do what they see as right for the organization.  The point is that there seem to be young players out there who are not getting the medical care they need to prevent further damage to their injuries.  And I was wondering why.  Is it the ego of the individual trainer?  Or pressure from the organization to take care of the problems themselves.  Or do players just get lost in the cracks because there are so many to take care of and so much going on in a relatively short season?

Proactively sending him for an MRI may not have prevented Scott's surgery, but it would have saved him several months' time - if diagnosed earlier, he could have been on the road to recovery much earlier.  And we all know how important it is to be ready to go at the beginning of the season.  Months make a difference.

I just wonder if there's a better way.  Do players need to be more insistent?  Most, from what I've heard, are reluctant to "buck the system" in any way, shape or form.

[Duman]

Interesting question -

There has been some talk on the board in the past about how players, even big leaguers are hesitant to give full report of injuries for fear of being seen as weak or a complainer.

I know that managers send the training reports to people in Houston to be reviewed.  I would be surprised that individual trainers have that much power.  I know that several Greeneville kids (some not really prospects) have been sent to Houston to be checked out and have also heard that it was Houston who was saying when a player could play again.  Granted the local trainer is the conduit for a great bit of the information, so I could see how certain reports could be skewed but I would think Houston would also see that and that person would no longer be with the org.

Glad Scott had a good season and hope he is able to get into affiliated ball again.

[HudsonHawk]

It seems some minor league trainers in particular are reluctant to let their players seek outside help for injuries - case in point:  Scott Robinson, Salem player injured early in the 2006 season.  My understanding is that the trainer insisted it was tendinitis and refused repeated requests for an "outside" opinion by an orthopedic surgeon. 

On what is your understanding based?

[Mr. Happy]

It seems some minor league trainers in particular are reluctant to let their players seek outside help for injuries - case in point:  Scott Robinson, Salem player injured early in the 2006 season.  My understanding is that the trainer insisted it was tendinitis and refused repeated requests for an "outside" opinion by an orthopedic surgeon.  Result was that Robinson was basically hitting one-handed, as left arm was extremely painful.  Astros released him, Robinson ended up having Tommy John surgery for a torn ligament and has recovered to the point he was the MVP and MOST OUTSTANDING HITTER in the SOuth Coast League, hitting .343 with 111 hits and 11 home runs.

There are many stories floating around about players whose injuries are misdiagnosed or undertreated by trainers - is there pressure from above for the trainers to be able to handle all injuries?  Is there some reward for them to keep the players on the field at all costs?

Big league clubs expect their trainers to do the best that they can to keep players on the field. However, they know their place, and practicing medicine isn't it. Your sample size is way too small to indict an entire system. If anything, the trainers are the most careful with young prospects.

[Bobie]

Maybe it is, as was mentioned above, that players are reluctant to fully disclose their pain or discomfort for fear of retribution or looking weak or whatever.  That would make it harder for the trainers or the head office to make an informed decision.  Interesting.

[Mr. Happy]

Maybe it is, as was mentioned above, that players are reluctant to fully disclose their pain or discomfort for fear of retribution or looking weak or whatever.  That would make it harder for the trainers or the head office to make an informed decision.  Interesting.

Trust me, while players like to try to tough it out while they're going good, they're more apt to speak up about pain when they aren't.

[JimR]

It seems some minor league trainers in particular are reluctant to let their players seek outside help for injuries - case in point:  Scott Robinson, Salem player injured early in the 2006 season.  My understanding is that the trainer insisted it was tendinitis and refused repeated requests for an "outside" opinion by an orthopedic surgeon.  Result was that Robinson was basically hitting one-handed, as left arm was extremely painful.  Astros released him, Robinson ended up having Tommy John surgery for a torn ligament and has recovered to the point he was the MVP and MOST OUTSTANDING HITTER in the SOuth Coast League, hitting .343 with 111 hits and 11 home runs.

There are many stories floating around about players whose injuries are misdiagnosed or undertreated by trainers - is there pressure from above for the trainers to be able to handle all injuries?  Is there some reward for them to keep the players on the field at all costs?

sounds like you're looking for someone to blame. i do not believe the basic premise to your post.