Young Athletes Should Get Head Start on Sports Physicals

Parents should not wait until the week before school starts to get their child's sports physical exam. "That doesn't allow time for a problem to be corrected or rehabilitated if it is detected during the exam," says Dr. Julie Jones, an assistant professor of family and community medicine at Baylor College of Medicine. A preparticipation exam (PPE) should include a baseline medical history and a physical exam. According to Dr. Jones, both should emphasize areas of greatest concern for sports participation, such as head or musculoskeletal injuries, cardiovascular problems and asthma. To allow time to treat problems identified during the exam, the PPE should be performed at least six weeks before preseason practice.

- From Baylor College of Medicine

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©2006 Texas Medical Center

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