PREPARTICIPATION PHYSICAL EXAMS

As I prepare for the start of the fall athletics season, so are coaches, athletes, and parents.  One aspect that tends to sneak up on athletes and parents is making sure the athlete has a completed current preparticipation physical exam (PPPE) on file at the high school.  The Minnesota State High School League requires athletes to have an updated PPPE completed every 3 years before ANY physical activity participation in a sport. 

Preparticipation physical exams have a health history and an exam section.  The health history section is completed by the athlete and parent/guardian and alerts the examining health care provider to potential health care concerns that may need to be addressed prior to athletic participation.  The exam is to be conducted by the appropriate health care professional licensed to provide physicals in the state of Minnesota (Physicians, Nurse Practitioners, Physician Assistants)

The goals of a PPPE are:

• To identify medical conditions that may require further evaluation and treatment before participation
• To identify orthopedic conditions that may require further evaluation and treatment, including physical therapy, before participation

• To identify athletes at risk of sudden death
• To identify at-risk adolescents and young adults who are at risk for substance abuse, STDs, pregnancy, violence, depression, and so on

If athletes and parents are unsure if an updated PPPE is due they can check by either logging onto the high school athletics registration site or by calling the St. Francis High School Athletic department.  If a PPPE is due, scheduling with your family physician is a good place to complete this exam.  Now is also a great time to be on the lookout for free PPPEs being offered by clinics at select dates and times between now and the start of the athletics season.

Let’s have a great fall athletics season!