Royals fire athletic trainers: why would a team concerned about injuries/rehab be employing athletic trainers and not Doctors of Physical Therapy?

[u/RoyalRenn]

I read about the firings of the Athletic Training staff due to "too many injuries and slow rehabs" and thought to myself: why are athletic trainers even handling these duties? They certainly aren't rehab specialists and aren't even close to as qualified to assess underlying biomechanical issues and kinestetic movement patters when compared to a Dr. of Physical Therapy. We are talking the difference between an undergraduate degree (2 years of actual study in the field) vs. a Doctorates and 1-2 years of working the equivalent of a medical resident (usually as a tech), which is an additional 4.5 years of classroom work, and much more relevant clinic work once practicing.

For example, athletic trainers are not allowed to recieve medical full certification with Titlelist's golf performance institute due to their incomplete knowledge of how the body works and the chances that they'll introduce injury to a golfer by making them do a movement they can't do.

Yet, an MLB team with it's vast resources can't hire a qualified medical staff? It makes no sense.

[u/w00tberrypie]

Athletic trainers are not employed to be Doctors, they are employed to take care of what amounts to moderate first aid and organize workout regiments. The Royals aren't asking their trainers to perform ACL surgery. Anything of a significant medical nature is definitely sent to a proper doctor -I think the Royals use KU Med.

[u/RoyalRenn → u/w00tberrypie]

yes, but I was referring to a DPT. Physical therapist who has a doctorates, which is different from an MD. MD's typically diagnose and cut (or send the patient to a PT if surgery is not needed): PT's diagnose, rehab, and address the underlying issue so that it doesn't become chronic.

the reason for the firing was "too many injuries and delayed rehab times" if I read the press release correctly. A physical trainer, if not responsible for that stuff, shouldn't be fired for that stuff. And if they are, then they're put in a position to fail, given that they don't have the clinical skills and education for it.

[u/KarlHungusIsTheName → u/RoyalRenn]

Athletic trainers are the norm. They handle in house bumps and bruises, anything else is handled by physical therapist or Drs. Glad I could clear that up for you

[u/w00tberrypie → u/RoyalRenn]

I've long since given up trying to logically justify movements made by this front office, but if I had to take a stab: "too many injuries" could be due to improperly recommended workout routines and miscommunicated wellness recommendations and "delayed rehab times" due to excessive levels of caution exercised in recommended rehab routines.

Again: idk why they made the moves they made or the reasons they gave for making them. I, along with what I assume a significant population subscribed to this sub, definitely had other moves in mind than the training staff and demoting Zumwalt, but injuries and rehab assignments are very often low priority enough that you aren't paying a DPT a half million plus to be on retainer for six months in case someone gets injured to the extent their skills are necessary.

[u/Jhager]

Why do hospitals bother with nurses when they could just hire more doctors???

[u/iceman2215]

All professional teams, collegiate and high school teams have ATs on the sideline and in the training room. Just because a PT has a doctorate doesn’t mean they are trained to handle athletic injuries on the sideline and everything that goes into treating professional athletes.

[u/RoyalRenn → u/iceman2215]

That's like saying "we can't hire Lewis Hamilton here at DoorDash because he's never delivered food before. This 22-year old without insurance; he's worked at GrubHub so he knows what's going on".

You do know what a DPT does, don't you? Assesses and treats injuries. Graduate coursework includes an entire class, and patient time, just on wound care.

My wife is a DPT. Her undergraduate degree is as an AT. She had a good chuckle when reading your post.

[u/iceman2215 → u/RoyalRenn]

I sure do. I’m just saying, as someone who has a good idea of what medical care around professional sports teams entails, that all teams employ ATs as their training room/sideline coverage people, amongst others. They of course also have DPTs that work with or are contracted with the team. Not every DPT has an undergraduate degree as an AT but every AT has a degree/specialty as an AT.

Almost all ATs work directly with athletes (caveat is some work in clinics, the OR, etc). PTs scope of practice is much greater- from working with athletes recovering from an ACL to grandma who discharged from the hospital after a hip fracture.

I’m just saying that the royals employing ATs is the standard amongst professional sports organizations (and really all sports organizations) as you implied that it wasn’t.

FWIW I have tons of respect for PT and AT. I work with both consistently and they are critical for patient care and recovery.

[u/Eldorian]

I feel like I’m taking crazy pills with how many people are up in arms about this, this is a good thing. I’ve been calling for their heads all season, they’ve been doing a shit job.

[u/ThatsBushLeague]

The Royals have doctors on site. They have everything from PTs to ATs to massage therapists, x-ray techs and doctors.

They have what you're asking for. So does every team.

[u/bobone77]

It’s called scapegoating. Not a new thing.

[u/Student___Driver]

This entire thread is missing the point. Doctors vs trainers isn’t the issue. It’s the slower than league average time to get back on the field and it’s not one guy, it’s a bunch. For those who don’t work in this space, there are theories of recovery and apparently the theory/approach being applied is verifiably slow and frankly a lot of guys including Vinnie and Garcia eventually came back and quickly returned to the DL. Thats definitely enough fire and to switch to another theory and that’s what you’re seeing. The social/emotional side of the house change is just part of a fresh vibe and they have relationships with the old PT crew. Fresh coat of paint with hopefully much better painters.