re: UCLA Pitcher Thatcher Hurd commits to LSU

The Iron Lady

Geaux!

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You say this like there’s absolutely nothing to make it better. Which is so untrue I don’t even know where to begin. There’s many outlets to heal the area and even make it stronger.

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Re-read my other post above. Core strength. He needs to build this up to protect his spine. In other words, I already said there IS something he can do to help. It’s simple medicine that pars defects don’t “heal”. That’s why they’re called “defects”. I’m not the one who said that’s what he had. SI.com reported that’s what he has back in April.
All the above posts above calling me out and downvoting are appreciated. You mean well and want the best for him. I do too. But to me it’s simple because I understand his situation. Only time will tell if a MLB club will take a chance on him with a high round pick. If he hurts it again while at LSU to the point that he has to sit out the rest of the season, well……

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You know that they can fixate these stress fractures with surgery right?

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Yes. They're called spinal fusions. Very likely he would be saying goodbye to his MLB career if he did that don't you think? How many MLB pitchers out there have had lumbar spinal fusions and continued with a career?

Serious. Look up lumbar pars defects and treatment. Key in "study" or "professional paper" in the search to bring up papers/studies and not some personal blog out there speaking their own opinion. Look for papers that say "Review". They usually give good background information. Just saying.

Honestly, I'm really not hating on the guy. I just have a bit of knowledge about his condition and the fact that it knocked him out for the rest of the season in April. When I read the SI article and it said what he had, I just groaned. What bad luck. I'm not so much an LSU homer that I want us to get all we can get out of him and who cares what happens afterward. I want the best for the kid. He needs to strengthen his core and keep it strong. I do believe our new pitching coach is "just what the doctor ordered" for him as he probably over all the other college pitching coaches out there can teach him great form and how to keep it. I know I originally posted that I believed we made a mistake, but on further thought, if he desires to keep playing, we are likely his best option with the recent pitching coach hire.

I have pars defect I got it my junior of high from wrestling but I was still able to wrestle my senior year

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Yes. They're called spinal fusions. Very likely he would be saying goodbye to his MLB career if he did that don't you think? How many MLB pitchers out there have had lumbar spinal fusions and continued with a career?

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Or he could just have a pars repair since he’s still young with pedicle screws purely at that level instead of a multi-level fusion to preserve his true anatomy….

Abstract

Spondylolysis and spondylolisthesis are common diagnoses made in the athlete suffering from persistent back pain. Although the etiology of this continuum of conditions is uncertain, genetic predisposition and repetitive trauma have been strongly implicated. Sports in which participants are subjected to repetitive hyperextension across the lumbar spine pose a risk for such injuries. Football lineman, oarsmen, dancers, and gymnasts show high rates of these conditions. Treating the athlete with spondylolysis and/or spondylolisthesis can be a challenge. An inherent drive for return to competition, pressure from coaches and family, and obligations to the team can confound decision making on both the part of the patient and the treating physician. Although this motivation for prompt return to sports must certainly be considered, a safe return to competition is paramount.

LINK

This is a good article. A few things to take away. One, it’s MLB players and MiLB players in which the condition is found. They are likely in their 20’s. The player were talking about is a freshman in college, so about 18. When pain first starts is a big difference.

Like I said above, core strength and good form. I reviewed several articles that specifically mentioned core strength. If you follow my posts, you’ll see I softened my stance about him returning to play and I do feel we’re likely the best place for him with the recent hire. But to think at some point in his life this won’t come back to affect him is being short-sighted. Only he and his family came make the best decision for himself.

By the way, there are TONS of studies out there on when and if any given athlete can return to play. Remember, be careful when reading these articles. There’s a big difference between returning to play and returning to competition. Make sure you understand how they are using those terms. It’s also probably best to look closer as to who is “funding” said study. None approach what life is like for these professional athletes later in life.

On a side note, the British published a really good study in the last few years on hamstring injuries in Rugby players. Treatment options, best timing of MRIs, return to the field and return to competition. Speaking of LSU baseball, that hamstring study was tops at understanding the injury. I realize there’s a difference in sports there but the study was great at knowing the injury.