A pre-participation physical evaluation is what most of us just call a “sports physical” and are sometimes required for camps or occupation too. Although it may be something that you remember doing as an annual ritual for youth sports, they have a major significance in the health and safety of your child. A sports physical allows us to ensure the health and safety of an athlete before starting training and competition. Currently in the state of Missouri, sports physicals are required every 2 years. They are very much like a "annual physical" you may have had before where your doctor checks all the vital systems. A sports physical also consist of screening and questions designed to consider risk for injury, underlying illness, or factors that might place the athlete or others at risk when under the unique demands of sports or their occupation. Close monitoring of children and teens during their growing years is of the utmost importance. Any abnormal findings do not necessarily mean that the athlete will not be able play but may need to see another specialist before they are cleared.
Getting a physical can be done at various locations such as a drug store walk-in clinic, urgent care, or family physician. You may ask yourself, “why would I come to a chiropractic office for a physical?” Chiropractors are specialist for the musculoskeletal system and have a whole-body perspective. Although the exam may be brief, we can identify obvious needs for certain exercises or if your athlete would benefit from chiropractic adjustments as well. Here at Triad Sports & Family Chiropractic, we are the only office in the St. Louis metropolitan area to perform both standard sports physicals and expanded sports physical. We have added this option for our student athletes and families that are looking for an edge for prevention and peak performance.
Expanded sports physicals inquire a more in-depth screening. In addition to a pre-participation physical evaluation, we include the Functional Movement Screen (FMS), and ImPACT Baseline Screening will be performed. The FMS looks at seven fundamental movement patterns. You will get a score for each of the seven tests based on proper mobility and stability. Those who score poorly on the screens are using compensatory movement patterns during regular activities (including sports). We are trained to use the results from the FMS to offer necessary correctives that you will be able implement prior to the start of the season.
The ImPACT is a computerized neurocognitive assessment tool to measure how the brain is functioning. It can be used to assess an athlete that has experienced a head injury. Statistics from the CDC state that, 1 in 5 high school athletes will sustain a sports concussion during the season. Brain functionality is extremely important in these developmental stages toward adulthood. By having a baseline concussion screening each year, we have good data to rely on if an injury occurs and assist in determining when your athlete is fully recovered.
Now ask yourself “why wouldn’t I come get a physical at Triad Sports & Family Chiropractic to better my overall health?”
