"medical" ear stud
 

This weekend was the 2nd time this summer that a player has told me she was wearing a ear stud because of "medical" reasons. Seems that some doctors are suggesting that the pressure of a particular type of piercing in the center/middle part of the ear can help chronic migraines. In fact one of my fellow umps says his daughter was told the same thing and that she says this has helped her.

I did a google search on the subject and it seems like some do believe it. Not sure if this is a trend that will come to play in our sport. Anyone else hear of this?

Fine. But they can't play while receiving this "treatment." (At least in NFHS; for USA, I'd probably just shrug...)

"In short, acupuncture itself is a scientifically questionable therapy [for migraines] even when administered by protocol; daith piercings as an acupuncture proxy goes several steps further into the territory of shaky folk medicine. "
--- Snopes

YOU certainly had an interesting weekend.

I am a medical doctor, and I say hogwash. There is absolutely no published medical journal evidence to support those claims, and I've had to remove/dig out those things and treat infections on more than one occasion. Nip that in the bud before it gets started. I'd advise you tell the players to get a legitimate note from their medical doctor or have that nonsense out of their ears before the next set of games.

So what do you think, if indeed a player had a doctors note for an ear stud, is it a go? One might say that this is far fetched, but the world's a funny place...

As above, "But they can't play while receiving this "treatment." (At least in NFHS; for USA, I'd probably just shrug"

Cecil is right. The rule trumps the doctor's note in this case IMO (and I probably should have said that in my first response). If they get some witchcraft crazy doctor to actually write the note, all you have to say is "Well I hope it helps you, but you cannot wear that during a softball game according to the rules." The next thing out of their mouth will be "But I can't just take it out." And I would advise you say "That's too bad" and walk away.

I'll tell you guys the problem I'm facing right now with my young players--they're watching ESPN and seeing those college girls wearing those pretty simple post-style earrings, and they're coming to me and saying "If those girls can wear their earrings, why can't we?" And I tell them if you make it to college ball and ESPN, they might let you wear them also. :)

The exception in the jewelry rule is for a medical ALERT medal of some sort, usually attached as part of a bracelet, pendant on a chain, whatever, and are designed to provide medical first responders and doctors with information about the wearer's condition. Devices that have some sort of hocus pocus healing attribute, like copper bracelets or the thing you're describing, are not covered by the jewelry exception rule.

Sorry, but nice try. Take the thing off.

I agree, but I'd say "you can't play with it on" rather than "take it off".

While it wasn't some supposed medical piercing, I do remember seeing something from nfhs several years back about a player wearing an insulin pump and it should be allowed.

We have a player on the local circuit that uses an insulin pump. It used to draw attention but it seems commonplace now.

Don't interpolate, extrapolate, or expand that decision to anything someone declares as a medical device. Stay with the stated rulings.

No one could possibly confuse the need/use/intent of an insulin pump with an earring. Any earring.

Next we will have fidget spinners on the field.

And, finally, we won't have 10U girls playing in the dirt any more, lol.

Along with several other items. Besides the risk of saying that to a player :eek:, it is not our decision, but up to the player about playing without it or not playing.
I always remember a player who took herself out of a varsity game, rather than remove a WWJD bracelet. Of course, I wonder about her other games. :rolleyes:

That makes sense. Denying a player from playing because she has an insulin pump would go against the NFHS policy of making "reasonable accommodations for athletes, coaches and officials with disabilities."

Also, NFHS rule 3-2-13 specifically points out that "Each state association may, in keeping with applicable laws, authorize exceptions to NFHS playing rules to provide reasonable accommodations to individual participants with disabilities and/or special needs, as well as those individuals with unique and extenuating circumstances. The accommodations should not fundamentally alter the sport, heighten risk to the athlete/others or place opponents at a disadvantage."

That's fundamentally different than allowing an earring that supposedly alleviates migraines. Unless the player's coach shows me a letter from the doctor that says this, she's not playing with it.

As much as I dislike being the clothing and jewelry police, I disagree with this for NFHS. Earrings are one of the items declared to be illegal by black-letter rule:

ART. 12 . . . Players in the game are prohibited from wearing jewelry such as rings, watches, earrings, bracelets, necklaces (including cloth or string types) or other hard cosmetic or decorative items.

I would need for the state association to issue a ruling, or she is not playing with that earring in her ear, doctor's letter or not. The doc can prescribe the earring (assuming he is silly enough, IMO), but he cannot make it legal to wear in a high school game.

I'm not recommending anyone do this, but last time I umpired 10U, F6 wanted to play tic tac toe with me. In the first inning, when I moved over to C position, she drew a tic tac toe board in the dirt with her foot, looked me square in the eye and said "I'm X's. You're O's".

I lost.

That's awesome!

I can't speak from the USA side or the medical side of things, but I think from an umpire's side of things at the High School level, this is where the player would need a doctors note indicating the device is for medical purposes. Generally we are told that if there are any equipment pieces that are non-traditional in nature, they need approval of the state association. I think for medical devices like prosthetics a state association letter is needed as well. I would consider this the same way.

I don't doubt that there may be some truth to the fact that pressure points can help with migraines, but I think there needs to be much more study done to determine if it is really effective.

Sadly we now live in a world were legitimate medical treatment, snake oil, and anything else are all being lumped into one big witches kettle and what comes up depends on the medical provided providing the information.

If it is on a doctors note that she needs to wear it, is it still an earring or is it a medical device?

Your question is basically irrelevant, IMO, unless the state association makes a written accommodation for it.

To make an absurd analogy, an I.V. bag on a wheeled stand is a medical device, but would not be allowed in the game.

Unless or until the state association issues a written accommodation, it is illegal. I'm not telling her to take off her "medical device". I'm telling her she can't play with it on. Her choice: play or don't play.

I thought so too. I wish that game would have gone into extra innings so we could have had a rematch.

Last year during the high school season, I had one high school where the head coach did present me at the pregame meeting with a doctor's letter stating that a player was wearing this piercing for prevention of her migraines. Several days prior to the game we received an e-mail from the president of our high school umpires association (CHSSUA) stating that after discussions with state high school athletic association it was deemed appropriate, and we were to allow it. We did. But I also noticed that this player was the only girl on the team wearing any jewelry.

Yes, it is called a Daith Piercing that is supposed to relieve headaches. From what I can see/read, there is no evidence it is effective other than some using this method of treatment acknowledge there is some relief.

Are you sure the note was from a medical doctor and not the "doctor" at the local tattoo parlor? :)

That's funny! One of my fellow umpires asked the same question, actually beat me to it. He got an nasty e-mail response basically telling him to shut up and not worry about it.
This player's was actual small and on the inside of the ear, really not an issue.

I wonder if I can get a piercing that works to eliminate the parents whinny voices?

perhaps this would work ;^):p:p

https://smile.amazon.com/ClearArmor-...otection&psc=1

I came across the same issue this year. Was informed by the IHSAA to allow the player to play with this type of stud in her ear.

So we did. She played about 7-8 before I even questioned it. Everyone else ignored it..