Seton Hall Doctor Describes the State of Medical Education

Steve Adubato goes on-location to speak with Dr. Vincent K. McInerney, Orthopaedic Surgeon & Director of Sports Medicine at Seton Hall University, about the state of medical education in New Jersey.

9/15/17 #2079

Excerpt:

"We are talking sports injuries, and everything you also need to know about orthopedics with our good friend, Dr. Vincent McInerney, who is orthopedic surgeon, Director of Sports Medicine, at Seton Hall University. Doctor, let me ask you this. We've seen each other at a lot of basketball games, particularly Seton Hall University basketball games, and you deal with all kinds of athletes, all kinds of injuries. Are there more sports injuries than ever before? Or are they being detected more than ever before? I think it's a combination of both, Steve. There are more. Our players are bigger in basketball. Taller. Faster. And there have been some rules changes over the years. Or at least a lack of reinforcement of them. Particularly the dribbling. And if you see that, when people palm the ball, they'll run maybe five or six steps, and sometimes you and I count them, and we know that they're not exactly three. The speed and the ability to play is different. If you remember the old days with the Boston Celtics. You know, John Havlicek dribbling down the court. And he had to look at the ball. You can't dribble the ball the way you and I we're taught without looking at it. Now, players can palm it and they're looking all around the court and running with the ball. Very different speed. I think you and I both recognize that. If we looked at the old films and now, we'd say there's a difference. So I think rules changes play a lot in that, as well as the size and the agility of the players. But in terms of even younger athletes, right? Those of us who have children who are involved in youth sports. We're very conscious of the potential for injury. But what is it that we could or couldn't do? Should or shouldn't be doing as parents while not micromanaging the process, to the point where we don't let 'em do anything in sports? Well I think that what I would suggest to you is that we can do things. Parents have a great say in the rules and regulations. And we've allowed them to get lax. I'm particularly nervous about young women. Young girls. Soccer. Soccer right now, with all the heading. It's not just a seasonal sport that you and I played. We'd stop, and then move ahead to another sport. They play year round. And the subconcussive injuries to the head are incredible. Particularly in women. They don't have the neck strength. In many categories women are stronger than men. About 80% of the time. I hate to tell you this. But 20%... I'm not surprised. [laughter] 20%, they're actually not very good. And that's with their..."