Pre-Participation Sports Physicals: Why Are They Important?

If your child has sparked an interest in playing sports and plans to play for a school team or a league, you may want to consider getting a pre-participation physical exam (PPE).

Typically, a PPE is a requirement before your child is able to play in junior high, high school, college, or professional sports. This helps ensure safety in your athlete's training and competition activities.

What does a PPE cover?

During the PPE, your physician may examine your child's past medical history (allergies, birth defects, chicken pox, diabetes, etc.), a sports-specific history (any injuries), family history, and an exam of your child's head, thorax, abdomen and genitalia. Neurological, orthopedic, and additional exams may be performed as well (lab work, x-rays, etc.).

Why are PPEs so important?

Joel Brenner, MD, joins Melanie Cole, MS, to discuss pre-participation physical exams and why they're so important for your child's overall health.