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The preparticipation exam, an annual rite for young athletes, is about to get a long-overdue update.
The third edition of Preparticipation Physical Evaluation, being published this month, will be viewed with keen interest in light of developments in the field of sports medicine, says Robert Pallay, M.D., of Hillsborough, N.J., chair of the AAFP Commission on Public Health. High-profile deaths among young athletes have increased interest in the topic, he says.
Pallay served on the editorial board for the publication, which hasn't been updated since 1997. There have been many updates in the evidence since then, he says.
The monograph adds new information on administrative and legal issues and on athletes with disabilities. In addition, new data from studies on cardiology, diabetes, and fluid and electrolyte balance have been incorporated into the recommendations.
AAFP and five other medical specialty groups collaborated on the monograph, published by McGraw-Hill.
The guide will go a long way toward standardizing an examination that for too long has been handled like a "cattle call," with students lining up in gymnasiums or other public settings, says Pallay.
"The group crafted this after completing a literature review and found that over 250 different variations of the PPE were being used around the country. We wanted to create a more consistent, universally acceptable document," he says.
The guide addresses the issues of setting and timing, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, and athletes with special considerations.
It's important for the examination to be handled thoroughly since many youngsters have no other contact with medical professionals, says Pallay.
The other organizations involved in updating the guide are the American Academy of Pediatrics, American College of Sports Medicine, American Medical Society for Sports Medicine, American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine and the American Osteopathic Academy of Sports Medicine. You can order the guide for $39.95 by calling (800) 262-4729.
FP Report is published by the AAFP
News Department.
Copyright © 2004 by American Academy of Family Physicians.