Every year, the National Sports Medicine Foundation supports over 700 local high school and youth athletes by sponsoring and volunteering assistance with annual preparticipation sports physicals in Loudoun and Fairfax County.
The purpose of these physicals is to help maintain the help and safety of our athletes and promote safe participation is sport. The money raised at these events helps to support each schools’ athletic booster clubs and provided much needed supplies for athletes, coaches, and athletic trainers.
Donations towards our Foundation allows us to provide free preparticipation sports physicals to low-income athletes and families to promote their participation in sports.
What to Expect During a Pre-Participation Sports Physical:
A sports physical, also known as a pre-participation physical examination (PPE), is a check-up to assess an athlete’s health and fitness as it relates to their sport(s). During the sports physical, the health care provider looks for any diseases or injuries that could make it unsafe to participate in sports by reviewing the family’s medical history and performing a brief physical exam to ensure additional tests are performed if necessary.
We start each sports physical with a thorough medical history. This can be completed ahead of your visit by completing the VHSL medical history form. The health care provider will ask about any history of illness, hospitalizations, or injuries that might prevent your athlete from playing, or that might limit the amount of activity your athlete can handle.
Some pertinent medical history include:
- Asthma
- Shortness of breath or chest pain during exercise
- Dizziness or fainting spells
- High blood pressure
- Excess fatigue
- Diabetes
- Frequent headaches
- Eating disorders (including female and male athlete triad)
- Vision problems (wearing glasses or contact lenses)
- Epilepsy or seizures
- Past surgeries or injuries (broken bones, fractures, dislocations, or concussions)
- Heart problems such as a murmur or abnormal heart rhythm
- Bone, joint, or spine injuries
- Skin problems
- Severe allergies such as to food, pollen, or stinging insects
- Liver or kidney problems
- Use of certain medications including prescription, over-the-counter, illicit, and herbal medicines
- A family history of heart problems or sudden death before age 50
The medical history will be followed by a physical exam, in which the health care provider will:
- Measure height and weight
- Take pulse rate and blood pressure
- Check the heart and lungs
- Check neurological function such as reflexes, coordination, and strength
- Test your athlete’s vision
- Check the ears, nose, and throat
- Look at joint flexibility, mobility, spinal alignment, and posture. NSMI utilizes athletic trainers, physical therapist, physical therapy assistances and other sports medicine/Orthopaedic/musculoskeletal specialist to look for any limitations, deficits, muscle imbalances and other issues that may put your athlete at risk for injury. We are happy to make recommendation for physical therapy, strength and condition, or other sports performance training as needed.
- Review immunizations if needed. (NSMI does not perform vaccinations, and will refer athletes in need of vaccines to their primary care physician.)
At the end of the sports physical, the health care provider will discuss whether it’s safe for your athlete to play the sport.
The health care provider’s decision is based on several factors, including the:
- Type of sport and how strenuous it is
- Position played
- Level of competition
- Size of the athlete
- Use and type of protective equipment
- Ability to modify the sport to make it safer
If everything checks out during the sports physical, the health care provider will give the OK to play without any restrictions. Or the health care provider might recommend certain modifications, like using special protective equipment, carrying epinephrine auto injectors for severe insect allergies, or using an inhaler if your athlete has asthma.
It’s rare for teens to be barred from playing entirely. Most health conditions won’t prevent kids from participating in sports, but sometimes they’ll need treatment and a follow-up exam in order to play.
NSMI is dedicate to the health, safety, and success of all our athletes. We look forward to getting your athlete fit and ready for sport!
Forms:
Download and complete the forms below prior to you appointment to make your visit as seamless as possible! (Forms are updated each year based on VHSL guidelines)
How to Schedule:
Call our office at (703)729-5010 to schedule an appointment. We’re open Monday – Friday 8:00a – 4:30p for appointment but you can also keep an eye out on our social media page (and your schools pages) for any group events/sport physical nights throughout the year.
Contact Us
If you are an athletic trainer, athletic director, coach, or parent in need of assistance with sports physicals, please contact us using the form below.