This time of year is sports physicals time. We had a mass screening at the local middle school and my schedule seems to have another three to four sports physicals a day. I'll probably do a good 100-150 of them this month. I typically clear everyone but one person per year and after further evaluation they get to participate too.
From a medical standpoint, sports physicals are an interesting thing. The primary goal of the physical is to try to pick up hidden heart conditions that might result in sudden death of the young athlete when they exercise. A
JAMA review from a few years ago (I believe 2001) showed that these events are very rare and our ability to detect them is even rarer. If we could order an echocardiogram on every adolescent before they start a sport that might pick up these zebras. The cost of this would be enormous; however, and we'd have some very unhappy pediatric cardiologists who would have to read those echos. Other reasons to do sports physicals include getting kids caught up on shots if needed, refilling asthma inhalers, and making sure those with bee sting allergies have epi pens. Others use sports physicals as a psychosocial opportunity and do the sex, drugs, and rock and roll talk with their adolescents. Of course the students participating in sports is really more protective from smoking, alcohol/drug, and pregnancy than is any talk we give them.
Sports physical season also offers something else though not quite so medical. It's a ritual that we go through that holds meaning because it is somewhat of a ritual filled with symbolism. It's a sign that the seasons are turning and that fall is around the corner. It is a symbol of concern for our youth as they go off to school and enter into competition. While sports physicals offer little real medical value, I wouldn't trade this time of year for everything.
The Country Doctor
From a medical standpoint, sports physicals are an interesting thing. The primary goal of the physical is to try to pick up hidden heart conditions that might result in sudden death of the young athlete when they exercise. A JAMA review from a few years ago (I believe 2001) showed that these events are very rare and our ability to detect them is even rarer. If we could order an echocardiogram on every adolescent before they start a sport that might pick up these zebras. The cost of this would be enormous; however, and we'd have some very unhappy pediatric cardiologists who would have to read those echos. Other reasons to do sports physicals include getting kids caught up on shots if needed, refilling asthma inhalers, and making sure those with bee sting allergies have epi pens. Others use sports physicals as a psychosocial opportunity and do the sex, drugs, and rock and roll talk with their adolescents. Of course the students participating in sports is really more protective from smoking, alcohol/drug, and pregnancy than is any talk we give them.
Sports physical season also offers something else though not quite so medical. It's a ritual that we go through that holds meaning because it is somewhat of a ritual filled with symbolism. It's a sign that the seasons are turning and that fall is around the corner. It is a symbol of concern for our youth as they go off to school and enter into competition. While sports physicals offer little real medical value, I wouldn't trade this time of year for everything.
The Country Doctor