Before the Game Begins: Why Sports Physicals Matter
By Orthopedic Surgeon James Slauterbeck, MD
A sports physical, also called a pre-participation exam, is a checkup students get before playing school sports. Most middle and high school athletes need one each year. The goal is simple: make sure the athletes are healthy and safe to play.
Last year, UNC Health Southeastern screened about 1,200 Public Schools of Robeson County middle and high school athletes. Twenty residents from emergency medicine, family medicine, and internal medicine, along with faculty from pediatrics, orthopedics, and primary care, facilitated the event. It was a great community service event, and we look forward to continuing to serve our community in the future.
A sports physical is simple and quick. It includes questions about your health and your family history, checking height, weight, and blood pressure, listening to your heart and lungs, testing your vision, checking your muscles and joints, and giving advice about sleep, nutrition, and healthy habits.
One of the most important parts of a sports physical is checking your heart. Serious heart problems in young athletes are rare, but they can be dangerous during exercise. During the visit, doctors ask about your health and your family’s health, including whether anyone in your family has had heart problems or died suddenly at a young age. They also listen to your heart and check your blood pressure. These simple steps can catch warning signs early, even if you feel fine.
Sports physicals also help prevent injuries by checking your muscles, bones, and joints to make sure everything is working well. Doctors can find old injuries that did not heal properly, weak areas that could lead to new injuries, and problems with flexibility or strength. Fixing these early can help you stay healthy and keep playing all season.
Many students learn something new about their health during a sports physical. Doctors may find high blood pressure, asthma, or vision problems that need glasses. Finding these early helps you stay healthy both on and off the field.
For some students, this may be the only time they see a doctor all year. Sports physicals can help students connect with a regular doctor, update vaccines, and learn about sleep, nutrition, and healthy habits. This is especially important for families who may not have easy access to healthcare.
School-based or mass sports physicals make care easier for everyone. They help students who may face high medical costs, do not have a regular doctor, or have trouble with transportation. These events make sure every student has a chance to get checked and stay healthy.
Mass sports physical events allow many students to be seen in a short amount of time using a station-based system. Athletes move through different stations where physicians and athletic trainers each focus on a specific part of the exam, such as medical history, vital signs, heart and lung checks, vision, and musculoskeletal screening. This team approach improves efficiency, allows careful evaluation at each step, and provides a safe and organized experience for students.
Sports physicals help keep student athletes safe by checking the heart, preventing injuries, and finding problems early. For many students, they are more than just a requirement. They are a chance to stay healthy, get care, and be ready to play their best.
Our goal is to keep athletes safe in the game and on the field and court. We also aim to keep sports medicine care close to home in the Lumberton area so families do not have to travel to larger cities or universities for care. Our team includes a primary care sports medicine trained physician as well as three orthopedic surgeons with training in sports medicine or hand surgery, and a foot surgeon with expertise in sports related injuries of the foot.
James Slauterbeck, MD, is an orthopedic surgeon whose special interests include sports medicine, adolescent sports medicine, female sports medicine, and high school and college athletic injuries. He is affiliated with UNC Health Orthopedics at Southeastern Health Park and UNC Health Southeastern. To learn more, call (910) 738-1065 or visit https://www.unchealth.org/care-services/doctors/s/james-r-slauterbeck-md.
