Inside spring training with Phillies team doc

At last month's Phillies spring training in Clearwater, Fla., Rothman Institute representatives followed head team physician and Sports Doc panelist Michael Ciccotti, M.D., through a typical day. Here are some excerpts from their experience.

The game has ended with the home team on the losing end of the 7-6 score. The traffic in the training room is picking up. One of the players comes in with a lump on the back of his hand.

Dr. Ciccotti asks him to come into his office. "I'll get the needle."

The lump on his hand is a ganglion cyst. It is one of the numerous side effects of being a professional ball player.

Dr. Ciccotti tells the player to sit down and hold out his hand. The player knows the drill. Apparently this is not the first time he needs it drained.

Once seated, Dr. Ciccotti numbs the area and inserts the needle. He draws out a thick amber fluid the consistency of molasses. It is not watery at all. Almost like a hardening sap.

The player doesn't even flinch with this going on and actually pulls out a cell phone so he can take a picture to show his wife who is curious about the procedure.

The whole thing takes two minutes and he's gone with only a band aid to show for it.

"Now I sit here and wait," says Dr. Ciccotti. "I am here to be available for any and all issues."

To read the blog entries in their entirety, visit www.rothmaninstitute.com/blog

Read more Sports Doc for Sports Medicine and Fitness.