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Sports Physicals

by KXMB TV Amber Schatz

Posted on 7/23/2010

Sports Physicals

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They’ll soon be sweating some of the toughest practices of the year… Pre-season.

But before that… Amber Schatz shows us why high school athletes have to first pass another test.

It’s one of the most important passes they’ll make all season… passing their sports physical.

Dr. Brandon Price, St. Alexius Mandan Clinic:
“Six just this morning, so it’s been busy.”

In January… The North Dakota high school activities association changed bi-annual physicals… into yearly checkups to protect athletes from any “undiscovered health concerns”

Dewitt Mack, Mandan HS Baseball Team:
“I think it’s a good change, anytime you can get the kids into see the doctor and make sure they’re not missing something, an illness that could sideline them or end up possibly causing a huge detrimental effect is a good idea.” Busloads of athletes are getting checked this summer.

They have to have a clean bill of health before day one of practice.

Blaine Steiner, Certified Athletic Trainer:
“I think it’s positive because that may be the only time athletes go to the doctor and with the athletes being so young and active.”

Dewitt Mack:
“It’s the factors you don’t see on the surface, the ones that possibly a heart condition, that you want to avoid.”

Dr. Price:
“The biggest ones are the cardiovascular screening questions, that’s mostly athletes heart that you hear about, or underlying arrhythmia, the student athlete or parent aren’t aware of.”

Dr. Price says he hasn’t had to restrict anyone from playing so far but he had to refer two students on to specialists last year.

Lorell Jungling, Mandan Athletic Director:
“You hear about these horror stories, not only in North Dakota, but other states, in Michigan they had a situation where at a sports physical, they found a defect in a young man’s heart, and they were able to be proactive, and if it were to save just one of our young people, that would definitely be worthwhile.” An extra screen and a little extra work, that provides more peace of mind

Dr. Price:
“You can just assume every July I’m going to go in and get my sports physical, make sure nothing’s changed especially in the family history.”

Dewitt Mack:
“You want kids to compete and have fun but at the same time, they have to be safe.”

Blaine Steiner:
“You want to provide a positive environment for the students to excel in, but it should also be a safe environment.”

Dr. Price says it’s important to have your forms filled out before you see the doctor, because there are 50 plus questions to fill out. To make an appointment for a sports physical, call 530-5550.

To see the new NDHSAA sports physical form… visit NDHSAA.

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