HEALTH SPORTS PHYSICAL EXAMS CRITICAL FOR HS STUDENTS
The coronavirus pandemic may be creating more questions about the status of fall sports than answers, but that hasn’t stopped the need for student athletes to complete their preparticipation physical exams on time in order to be ready to play.
“We’re seeing student athletes filling up our schedules, and a lot of sports leagues have already proceeded with starting their seasons,” said Brittany Jamison, CNP, who works at Premier Health Urgent Care.
A preparticipation physical exam – most commonly known as a sports physical – is critical to any high school student athlete being able to participate in their sport. The physical is an assessment of a student’s health in light of the sport they intend to participate. It focuses on areas such as the health of their musculoskeletal and cardiovascular systems as well as testing their strength, joints, flexibility, and posture, Jamison said.
“There are some things that make a sports physical very unique, and one of the biggest things is that we take time to review any pre-existing injuries,” she said. “We assess their current fitness levels, and if we discover any new conditions – such as wheezing, heart murmurs or skin conditions – we can refer them to their primary care provider.”
The purpose of a preparticipation exam can be confusing to some families, which is why it’s often overlooked or confused for a child’s yearly wellness checkup, said Joel Wehrmeyer, MD, a pediatrician with Premier Health Pediatrics of Huber Heights.
“Parents can get the two different exams confused because, on the surface, they may appear the same,” said Dr. Wehrmeyer, who practices with Premier Physician Network (PPN). “A sports physical is evaluating a student in light of participating in a sport. An annual physical exam is checking many of the same things, but comparing a student to where they were a year ago including mental and social assessments.”
There are times when the sports physical can slip off the radar of a family’s busy schedule and remain unnoticed until the student athlete shows up for their first practice of the year only to find out they can’t participate until they have the physical completed, he said. For this reason, PPN practices work hard to get patients in for exams as soon as possible, but when it’s not practical for a family to secure an appointment that day with their primary care provider, they can be seen at a Premier Health Urgent Care location.
Families can make the most of the sports physical exam by keeping the following in mind:
The right form – Make sure the form you obtain for the physical comes directly from your school’s athletic department or club league’s website. Most schools use the form obtained by the Ohio High School Athletic Association, but you can never assume, Jamison said.
The right time – It’s no secret that juggling a household can sometimes be a challenge especially with all the details that arise when students begin a new school year. As tempting as it can be to put off scheduling a sports physical appointment, don’t. Many primary care offices can actually schedule a student’s yearly wellness checkup at the same time as their sports physical, Dr. Wehrmeyer said.
The right information – Make sure that all information on the form is filled out as thoroughly and accurately as possible to help the health care provider make the best assessment for a student. This includes taking the time to think through the family history section where a condition in a relative may help direct a provider to a closer examination in one area.
The right attitude – The sports physical may feel like a box that a family needs to check in order for an athlete to get to the sport they love, but it’s important for both parents and students to approach the exam with a proper understanding of its importance. There are times when a preparticipation exam may actually catch serious health conditions that a student doesn’t know exists.
Premier Physician Network is one of the largest groups of pediatrics, family medicine, internal medicine, and urgent care practices in southwest Ohio. For more information, go online to www. premierphysiciannet.com.