STEM HEALTH SYSTEMS
Sports Physicals
If you fail to prepare, you’re prepared to fail.
You already know that playing sports helps keep you fit. You also know that sports are a fun way to socialize and meet people. But you might not know why it’s so important to get a sports physical at the beginning of your sports season. About 90 percent of the time, we don’t find anything that would be of concern during a physical. However, those few check-ups that do reveal problems are potentially life-saving and that alone makes them more than worth doing. Heart murmurs or hidden heart disorders are sometimes found during physicals. A few more common conditions physicians see that might limit a student’s physical activities include asthma, allergies and high blood pressure.
What Is A Sports Physical?
In the Sports Medicine field, the sports physical exam is known as a pre-participation physical examination (PPE). The exam helps determine whether it’s safe for you to participate in a certain sport. Most states actually require that kids and teens have a sports physical before they can start a new sport or begin a new competitive season. But even if a sports physical isn’t required, doctors still highly recommend getting one.
The two main parts to a sports physical are the medical history and the physical exam.
Medical History
This part of the exam includes questions about:
Serious illnesses among family members
Illnesses that you had when you were younger or may have now, such as asthma, diabetes, or epilepsy
Previous hospitalizations or surgeries
Allergies (to insect bites, for example)
Past injuries (including concussions, sprains, or bone fractures)
Whether you’ve ever passed out, felt dizzy, had chest pain, or had trouble breathing during exercise
Any medications that you are on (including over-the-counter medications, herbal supplements, and prescription medications)
The medical history questions are usually on a form that you can bring home, so ask your parents to help you fill in the answers. If possible, ask both parents about family medical history.
Looking at patterns of illness in your family is a good way to consider possible conditions you may have. Most Sports Medicine doctors believe the medical history is the most important part of the sports physical exam, so take time to answer the questions carefully. It’s unlikely that your answers will prevent you from playing your sports.
Physical Examination
During the physical part of the exam, the doctor will usually:
Record your height and weight
Take a blood pressure and pulse (heart rate and rhythm)
Test your vision
Check your heart, lungs, abdomen, ears, nose, and throat
Evaluate your posture, joints, strength, and flexibility
Although most of the exam will be the same for males and females, if a person has started or already gone through puberty, the doctor may ask girls and guys different questions. For example, if a girl is heavily involved in a lot of active sports, the doctor may ask her about her period and diet to make sure she doesn’t have something like female athlete triad (poor nutrition, irregular or absent periods, and weak bones).
A doctor will also ask questions about use of drugs, alcohol, or dietary supplements, including steroids or other “performance enhancers” and weight-loss supplements, because these can affect a person’s health.
At the end of your exam, the doctor will either fill out and sign a form if everything checks out OK or, in some cases, recommend a follow-up exam, additional tests, or specific treatment for medical problems.
What If There’s A Problem?
Your doctor’s referral to a specialist may help your athletic performance. For example, if you want to try out for your school’s track team but get a slight pain in your knee every time you run, an Orthopedist or Sports Medicine specialist can help you figure out what’s going on. Perhaps the pain comes from previous overtraining or poor running technique. Maybe you injured the knee a long time ago and it never totally healed. Or perhaps the problem is as simple as running shoes that don’t offer enough support. Chances are, a doctor will be able to help you run without the risk of further injury to the knee by giving you suggestions or treatment before the sports season begins.
It’s very unlikely that you’ll be disqualified from playing sports. The ultimate goal of the sports physical is to make sure you’re safe while playing sports, not to stop you from playing. Most of the time, a specialist won’t find any reason to prevent you from playing your sport.
