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American Academy of Family Physicians Part of National Effort to Improve Preparticipation Physicals for Student-Athletes

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

September 22, 2004

Media Contact:
Karen Siebert
(913) 906-6000, Ext. 5221
ksiebert@aafp.org

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. - The American Academy of Family Physicians and five other of the nation's leading medical societies, in cooperation with The McGraw-Hill Healthcare Information Group, have released an updated Preparticipation Physical Evaluation for use by their more than 160,000 members and other healthcare professionals in evaluating the physical condition of student-athletes. The new edition will provide a more uniform and authoritative preparticipation screen for the 35 million student-athletes in the United States.

The six participating medical societies include the American Academy of Family Physicians, American Academy of Pediatrics, American College of Sports Medicine, American Medical Society for Sports Medicine, American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine, and American Osteopathic Academy of Sports Medicine.

Each year, more than 12 million students take a preparticipation examination, known as a PPE, before participating in athletics. These exams play a vital role in identifying health issues of prospective student-athletes to avoid placing them at risk during practice or competition.

"The new edition of the preparticipation exam will be a valuable resource for physicians, coaches, and anyone who works with student-athletes," said Michael Fleming, M.D., president of the American Academy of Family Physicians. "We hope that all healthcare providers will use this new form so that our student-athletes receive a comprehensive and uniform exam that is grounded in evidence-based medicine before they go to their first practice."

The benefits of sports participation are clear. School sports serve a major role in building students' minds and bodies. They inspire active and healthy lifestyles, build character and leadership abilities and foster lifelong friendships. School sports are also an effective way to help combat increasing levels of obesity and type-2 diabetes.

The new Preparticipation Physical Evaluation is an important instrument in ensuring the safe participation of America's student-athletes. The publication is the "gold standard" in screening exams. It provides appropriate guidance for detecting growing medical concerns, such as shoulder injuries and eating disorders. The new edition also provides additional coverage on issues such as obesity, diabetes, dealing with disabilities, asthma, immunizations, and cardiovascular evaluations.

"The new edition of the PPE publication has been enhanced to aid the evaluation of athletes in school and community programs. The emphasis is on a strong [medical] history, with updated questions, to provide an effective screen for athletes. In addition, the publication has expanded information on integrating special populations into the exam protocol," says William O. Roberts, M.D., president of the American College of Sports Medicine.

Finally, the updated publication will bring the PPE into the future of medicine. A planned electronic version of the PPE will make it possible to look at large samples of athletes and examine health trends. This will give physicians and sports administrators better and more uniform data from which to make their recommendations to student-athletes.

The Preparticipation Physical Evaluation: 3rd edition is the only PPE developed by America's leading medical societies.

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Founded in 1947, the AAFP represents more than 94,700 physicians and medical students nationwide. It is the only medical society devoted solely to primary care.

Nearly one in four of all office visits are made to family physicians. That is 208 million office visits each year - nearly 83 million more than the next largest medical specialty. Today, family physicians provide more care for America’s underserved and rural populations than any other medical specialty.

In the increasingly fragmented world of health care where many medical specialties limit their practice to a particular organ, disease, age or sex, family physicians are dedicated to treating the whole person across the full spectrum of ages. Family medicine’s cornerstone is an ongoing, personal patient-physician relationship focused on integrated care.

To learn more about the American Academy of Family Physicians and about the specialty of family medicine, please visit aafp.org.

For more information about the AAFP's positions on issues and clinical care and downloadable multi-media on family medicine and health care, visit the AAFP Media Center.

For more information about health care, health conditions, and wellness, please visit familydoctor.org.