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June 2, 2008

More than 400 student athletes get free physicals

Haywood Sports Medicine offered free sports physicals to 422  middle and high school student athletes May 29 at Haywood Regional Health & Fitness Center.

Haywood Sports Medicine is a collaborative sports medicine program involving physicians, athletic trainers, rehabilitation, health and fitness center staff, as well as other medical professionals associated with Haywood Regional Medical Center. These professionals donate their time to perform these individual pre-participation examinations and to complete forms required by the state for student athletes.

All Haywood County sixth through 11th grade students who plan to participate in a school sports activity for the upcoming school year were eligible to have the free pre-participation physical. A physical exam is necessary each year for students to participate in athletics.

The physical exam includes a review of each student’s medical history, height, weight, blood pressure, pulse, vision, general medical condition, musculoskeletal and cardiovascular exams, as required by the N.C. Board of Education. If medical problems are detected, the student athletes and parents will be referred to their physician of choice for follow-up care.

Nearly half of the student athletes who took advantage of the free physicals were from Tuscola (193); with 73 attending Waynesville Middle; 61 from Canton Middle; 49 from Bethel Middle; 30 from Pisgah High; and 15 from private schools.

Students lined up outside the Haywood Regional Health & Fitness Center Thursday to receive a free physical, offered by Haywood Sports Medicine.

The physical exam includes a review of each student’s medical history, height, weight, blood pressure, pulse, vision, general medical condition, musculoskeletal and cardiovascular exams.