Required wellness exams help students stay healthy throughout the year
It’s back-to-school season, which means families are shopping for books and backpacks, and high school students are training for sports tryouts. For many this means drills and conditioning exercises, but another element of preparation is just as important.
If your child is interested in participating in high school athletics in California, ensuring they’re able to compete safely is crucial — and mandatory.
The California Interscholastic Federation (CIF), the governing body for high school athletics in the state, requires that student-athletes at most public and private high schools complete an annual physical examination, also called a preparticipation examination (PPE), before they try out for any sport. The exam is confidential per the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).
CIF bylaws state that physicals must be “conducted by a medical practitioner certifying that the student is physically fit” to play, but doctors may take a more holistic approach to their care.
“This exam is often the only time these young athletes actually see a medical provider in the whole year, so it’s pretty important,” said Jeevan Sall, M.D., a primary care and sports medicine doctor with Providence. “It’s an opportunity to address physical health, but also mental health, well-being and injury prevention. A lot of preventive health care is done during physicals.”
We asked Dr. Sall to answer key questions to help you better understand the importance of sports physicals and what to expect during your child’s visit.
How should parents or guardians prepare their students for a sports physical?
The most important aspect of a preparticipation exam is reviewing the student’s medical history. Parents typically provide this beforehand. We use that information to look for illnesses, medications the student takes, and previous surgeries or concussions, which helps us to better serve the student, keeping them healthy and safe. We also discuss diet with the student and — if they’re comfortable — their weight. For female students, we address female health and ask if they’ve started menstruating. Family history is also important, especially cardiac history. Families often complete a form before the exam that allows us an in-depth review of the patient’s health.
What can students expect during their appointment?
Students should expect a conversation about their previous experience in sports. We typically ask about the last season, if they suffered any injuries and if they have concerns about continuing the sport.
We also check vital signs and conduct a vision test. In recent years, we’ve started asking mental health questions to rule out anxiety and depression. Mental health is an important part of the exam, and we definitely want to ensure they’re OK.
We then perform a physical exam that focuses on the heart, lungs and lymph nodes, as well as a muscle-skeletal exam that’s sport-specific. So, if I’m examining a tennis player, I’ll focus on their elbows, wrists and shoulders, but I’ll examine the lower body, too.
Generally, we also promote healthy lifestyle choices, educate students and parents on proper nutrition, hydration and injury prevention, and encourage holistic well-being.
When should students get their sports physical?
We typically perform the exam two to three months before the season starts. So, if the student plays a fall sport, they’d get their exam in May or June, for example.
How does clearing a student to play work?
Most California schools use a standardized form for the exam. It’s slightly different from school to school, but, with that, we either clear them for all sports without restrictions, clear them with recommendations or don’t clear them pending additional testing. This can occur if the student has a chronic medical condition or an injury. Once we review the results from those additional tests, we can clear them to play.
So, the routine sports physicals can lead to additional testing?
Again, the student’s medical history is important. Each student is unique, but if the student has a family history of a heart condition, I may recommend follow-up with a cardiologist for further testing. I may also recommend follow-up if I find something during the exam itself. I’ve caught muscle-skeletal, heart, lung and mental health conditions in the past, and they would warrant follow-up with additional specialists before full clearance of the student.
Why do you feel these annual exams are important?
Investing in sports physicals prioritizes the safety, health and long-term well-being of high school and collegiate athletes. Students should undergo physicals at least once a year because a lot can happen in a season, and a previously normal exam doesn’t necessarily mean the next one will bring the same result. Again, we’re focused on the health and safety of the student as we determine their clearance.
Find a doctor
The health care professionals at Providence can help you and your family stay up-to-date on your wellness exams and screenings. If you need to find a doctor, you can use our provider directory. Through Providence Express Care Virtual, you can also access a full range of health care services.
