Dr. Bill Morgan, former Red Sox team doctor, says sports injuries to athletes under age 16 are often overlooked by parents and coaches.
View full sizeFormer Red Sox doctor William Morgan talks at Team Rehab in Springfield on "Prevention of shoulder and elbow problems in the skeletally immature athlete." His talk was on Saturday. At right is Team Rehab chiropractor Cisco Serrano listening in before the talk.SPRINGFIELD – Ignoring pain is the most prevalent cause of sports injuries to athletes under the age of 16, said the surgeon who operated on Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling’s ankle after the 2004 “bloody sock” game against the Yankees.
“The key thing is to pay attention to pain,” Dr. William Morgan said Saturday. “In this society there is the ‘no pain, no gain’ mentality, but at the kids level pain means something. It’s the best indicator of an evolving problem.”
The difference between normal soreness and pain from an injury, Morgan explained, is the healing process.
“Non-pathologic pain should recover in 24 hours. If not, we have to figure out what is causing the pain.”
Morgan was in Springfield to deliver a lecture entitled “Prevention of Shoulder and Elbow Problems in the Skeletally Immature Athlete” at Team Rehab on East Columbus Avenue, a rehabilitation facility specializing in sports and fitness training.
Aimed at young athletes, their parents and coaches, the presentation, which focused on the importance of team sports and how to make them safe for youngsters, was the first in a series of lectures that will be held at Team Rehab.
Dr. William Morgan
“This is a show-and-tell lecture that shows the serious injuries that can occur by ignoring symptoms,” Morgan said. “We want to show the adults how to keep the kids healthy so they can continue playing.”
The most common sports injuries suffered by boys and girls under the age of 16, Morgan said, are those from pitching in baseball, quarterbacking in football and javelin throwing.
“Those sports can cause upper extension, elbow and shoulder injuries from aggressive throwing,” he said.
With so much of an emphasis being put on athletic achievement among school-age children who play competitive sports, Morgan said, the potential for injury is often overlooked by parents and coaches.
“It’s a lot better to err on the side of caution,” he added. “Every father’s son is the next Pedro Martinez.”
View full sizeThe bloody right heel of Boston Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling in early innings of Game 2 of the 2004 World Series against the St. Louis Cardinals. Republican file photo “(The situation with Curt Schilling) was a unique experience in a mature, intelligent, educated individual,” he said. “Our message here today is one of prevention, well-being and early recognition.”
Young athletes need to understand the distinction between the life of professional sports figures and how athletics impact their own lives, Morgan said, pointing out that just because Curt Schilling completed a championship game with a torn ankle tendon that resulted in the bloody sock does not mean they can do the same.
The former Red Sox team surgeon was awarded a World Series Championship ring following the 2004 season and worked on a number of the team’s pitchers during his three-year tenure as Medical Director for the Red Sox.
Team Rehab is comprised of a credentialed group of medical professionals including physicians, nurses, physiatrists, physical therapists, sports physiologists and related medical practitioners.