Getting Called Up To The Bigs.

Article by Clayton G. Lane, M.D.

As the team physician for the Baybears, one of the perks is that I also get invited to assist with Spring Training for the Arizona Diamondbacks in Tucson. While I have covered many athletic teams at all levels, it is always interesting to get another perspective on the medical care of athletes. I’ll take you though a typical day of Spring Training.

The athletes and trainers report to the clubhouse at 6:30AM. Breakfast is served and the athletes begin their preparation for the day. By 7:00AM the training room is hopping. Seven trainers juggle the needs of the athletes as they file in and out over the next hour. Some get myofascial release therapy (medical jargon for an aggressive massage), while others have trainer-assisted stretching or maintenance rotator cuff exercises. Still others need taping and other applications. The athletes and trainers must keep moving in order to be on the field in full uniform for group-stretching at 8:00AM.

The army of athletes consisting of what will become two minor league teams and one major league team is quite impressive. Once stretching is complete, the team splits up for position specific drills. Drills last most of the morning.

After lunch, there are four scrimmages; three minor league games on the practice fields and one major league game open to fans in the stadium. While I was in town it was the Rockies and the Angels.

After the games, the training room gets busy again with icing, more myofascial therapy and cuff maintenance. The adjacent weight-room gets busy as well. The strength trainers bounce around between athletes directing their exercise whether it be core strengthening, balance or cardio.

The energy level and tempo is very high throughout the day. This is of the innate competitive nature of professional athletes, but also because all are being evaluated at every moment. Particularly at the beginning of Spring, technically no one’s spot is secure whether they signed on for $6 million or $1000. So demonstrating a good work ethic as well as performing on the field is crucial. Even the trainers want to shine in front of the medical coordinator so that they might secure a spot in the Majors. I stayed with the trainers in the clubhouse until 9pm on Friday night, long after the players were gone, going over exam techniques and manipulations. I learned more from the trainers than they learned from me and was impressed with how eager they were to do this despite knowing they had to report at 6AM the next morning.

I look forward more to the Baybears’ season this year now that I know more about where they came from, how talented they are, and what they are driving for.

If you would like more information about Dr. Lane , the other Sports Medicine specialist, as well as the comprehensive and technologically advance care available at AOC, go to alortho.com.

Meet Dr. Suanne White-Spunner

In this brief video Dr. White-Spunner gives a brief tour of Alabama Orthopaedic Clinic, P.C. in Mobile, Alabama as well as a discussion on the role of orthopaedic physicians and the aging process. She focuses on arthritis, joint pain and how we can feel and look younger with healthy bones and joints, as well as options for treatments for pain.

For more information like this please visit our website at alortho.com.

Filmed at AOC by Hummingbird Ideas: hummingbirdideas.com