MINNEAPOLIS , MINNESOTA - Six 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 O. 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.
Cover price: $39.95 + shipping and handling; 104 pages ISBN 0-07-144636-2
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About American Academy of Family Physicians - Founded in 1947, the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) represents more than 93,700 physicians and medical students nationwide. It is one of the country’s largest medical specialty societies, and the only one devoted solely to primary care. The impact of family physicians on the health care of Americans is extraordinary. Nearly one in four of all office visits are made to general and family physicians annually. In 2001, office visits to general and family physicians numbered more than 210 million — 76 million more than to any other specialty. Family physicians are the only specialists qualified to treat most ailments and provide comprehensive health care for people of all ages — from newborns to seniors. In addition to diagnosing and treating illness, they also provide preventive care, including routine check ups, health-risk assessments, immunization and screening tests, and personalized counseling on maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Please visit www.aafp.org for more information about the AAFP.
About American Academy of Pediatrics - The American Academy of Pediatrics is an organization of 60,000 primary care pediatricians, pediatric medical sub specialists and pediatric surgical specialists dedicated to the health, safety and well being of infants, children, adolescents and young adults. It’s Sports Medicine and Fitness Section is one of the most rapidly growing portions of its membership. This reflects the increasing number of pediatricians devoting their practice to student athletic care.
About American College of Sports Medicine - The American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) is the world leader in the scientific and medical aspects of sport, exercise, and physical activity. With 20,000 members in over 80 countries, ACSM provides research, education, and practical applications to enhance performance, fitness, health, and quality of life. ACSM…advancing health through science, education, and medicine. www.acsm.org
About American Medical Society for Sports Medicine - The American Medical Society for Sports Medicine (AMSSM) was organized in 1991 by physicians who recognized the need for an organization within the field of sports medicine that approached athletes, exercising individuals, and teams comprehensively with consultative and continuous care of their orthopedic, medical, nutritional, and psychosocial issues. Although sports medicine concepts are often thought of in conjunction with professional and elite athletes, these concepts apply to athletes of all levels including grade school, high school, college and recreational athletes. AMSSM is comprised of over 800 Sports Medicine Physicians whose goal is to provide a link between the rapidly expanding core of knowledge related to sports medicine and its application to patients in a clinical setting www.amssm.org .
About American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine - The American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine (AOSSM), a world leader in sports medicine education, research, communication, and fellowship, is a national organization of nearly 2,000 orthopaedic sports medicine specialists, including national and international sports medicine leaders. The Society works closely with many other sports medicine specialists and clinicians, including family physicians, emergency physicians, pediatricians, athletic trainers, and physical therapists to improve the identification, prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation of sports injuries. The American Journal of Sports Medicine, AOSSM's official journal, is circulated to over 9,900 recipients. You can visit AOSSM online at www.sportsmed.org.
About American Osteopathic Academy of Sports Medicine - The American Osteopathic Academy of Sports Medicine ( AOASM ) is the oldest primary care based sports medicine specialty. It was formed in 1984 to fulfill the mission of a branch of the healing arts profession which utilizes a holistic, comprehensive approach to the prevention, diagnosis, and management of sport and exercise-related injuries, disorders, dysfunctions and disease processes. The founders, pioneers and expert sports medicine specialists, realized that while there were several physician organizations which support sports medicine, there was not a summit specific for primary care non-surgical sports medicine physicians. The purpose of the AOASM Web is to advance a mutually respectful relationship among dedicated, competent sports medicine specialists, and to provide a quality educational resource for AOASM members, allied health sports medicine professionals, and the general public. The vision of the American Osteopathic Academy of Sports Medicine is to champion the health, well-being, and safety of athletes and physically active people.
