Sports Physicals for Student Athletes

What Does a Sports Physical Include With Dr. Oldham?

Dr. Oldham performs sports physicals (also called pre-participation physical examinations or PPEs) that follow the standardized protocol developed by the American Academy of Pediatrics and five other medical societies. The exam includes a medical history review (personal and family), vital signs (blood pressure, heart rate, height, weight, BMI), cardiac auscultation in multiple positions to screen for murmurs, musculoskeletal screening (14-point joint and movement assessment), vision screening, and a review of concussion history, asthma, medications, and supplements. Dr. Oldham completes the Utah PPE form at the visit and provides the signed clearance document the athlete needs for their school.

Osteopathic training enhances the musculoskeletal portion of the sports physical because his hands-on examination skills detect joint asymmetries, restricted range of motion, and compensatory movement patterns that a standard visual screen may miss. In Spanish Fork, where student-athletes often play multiple sports per year, identifying a hip restriction or knee instability during a summer sports physical can prevent a season-ending injury in the fall. Dr. Oldham documents any findings and discusses corrective exercises or further evaluation when an issue is identified.

Why Does the Sports Physical Include Cardiac Screening?

Dr. Oldham performs cardiac screening during every sports physical because sudden cardiac arrest, while rare, is the leading cause of death in young athletes during exercise. The screening includes a detailed family history asking about sudden death in relatives under age 50, personal history of chest pain, fainting or near-fainting during exercise, unexplained shortness of breath, and cardiac auscultation in both supine and standing positions to detect murmurs that may indicate hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) or other structural abnormalities. Dr. Oldham checks blood pressure to screen for previously undiagnosed hypertension, which occurs in adolescents more often than many parents expect.

A referral for an echocardiogram goes out or EKG when the history or exam raises a concern, such as a new murmur that changes with position, a family history of sudden cardiac death, or exertional syncope. These additional tests are not part of the routine sports physical but are ordered when clinical findings warrant further evaluation. Dr. Oldham explains the reasoning to the family, coordinates the referral to a pediatric cardiologist when needed, and withholds clearance until the cardiac evaluation is complete. That conservative approach prioritizes the athlete’s safety over the convenience of immediate clearance.

When Should Athletes Schedule Their Sports Physical With Dr. Oldham?

Dr. Oldham recommends scheduling the sports physical at least four to six weeks before the sport’s first practice date, because that buffer allows time to address any findings that require follow-up testing or specialist evaluation. Utah high school sports typically require a current PPE form (valid for one calendar year) on file before the athlete can participate in tryouts or practices. Scheduling early avoids the August rush, when demand for sports physicals peaks and appointment availability tightens across Spanish Fork.

Combining the sports physical with a well-child visit when the timing aligns, because the two exams share many components (height, weight, blood pressure, developmental assessment) and combining them saves the family a separate trip. The sports physical adds the sport-specific musculoskeletal screen and the Utah PPE form completion, which takes an additional five to ten minutes beyond a standard well-child visit. The front desk can schedule both at the same appointment when requested.

What Conditions Can Disqualify an Athlete From Participation?

Dr. Oldham identifies conditions during the sports physical that may require activity modification, additional evaluation, or temporary disqualification until the condition is managed. Common findings include uncontrolled asthma, concussion symptoms from a prior injury, musculoskeletal instability (e.g., a previously injured knee that has not regained full strength), uncontrolled hypertension, and cardiac abnormalities detected on exam. Dr. Oldham follows the AAP PPE monograph guidelines for clearance decisions, which categorize findings as cleared without restriction, cleared with further evaluation recommended, or not cleared pending further workup.

Athletes are not disqualified without a clear medical reason, and he explains every finding to the athlete and parent in plain language. When an athlete needs additional workup before clearance (e.g., an echocardiogram for a new murmur or an MRI for persistent knee instability), Dr. Oldham fast-tracks the referral and schedules a follow-up visit to complete the clearance as soon as results are available. The goal is to keep athletes playing safely, not to create unnecessary barriers to participation.

How Does Dr. Oldham Handle Concussion History During the Sports Physical?

Dr. Oldham reviews every athlete’s concussion history during the sports physical, documenting the number of prior concussions, recovery duration for each, and whether any resulted in prolonged symptoms or emergency evaluation. Athletes with a history of multiple concussions receive additional counseling about the cumulative risk of repeated head injury and the importance of honest symptom reporting during the season. Dr. Oldham assesses current cognitive and balance function at the visit and may order baseline neurocognitive testing for athletes in high-contact sports (football, soccer, lacrosse, wrestling) so that post-injury testing has a comparison point.

Athletes with a concussion history are cleared when they are currently symptom-free and have completed the graduated return-to-play protocol from their most recent injury. He does not clear athletes who are still experiencing post-concussion symptoms, regardless of how long ago the injury occurred. For athletes with three or more concussions, Dr. Oldham discusses the long-term risks, involves the parents in the clearance decision, and may recommend a neurology consultation before issuing clearance for contact sports.

Can Dr. Oldham Perform Sports Physicals for College-Bound Athletes?

Dr. Oldham performs sports physicals for college-bound athletes, though NCAA and NAIA programs have additional medical requirements beyond the standard high school PPE. College programs typically require a more detailed cardiac screening, sickle cell trait testing (or a waiver), mental health screening, and a substance use assessment. Dr. Oldham reviews the specific university’s medical requirements with the athlete and completes as much of the documentation as possible at the visit. He orders additional labs (sickle cell trait, blood work) when required and provides the completed forms to the athlete for submission to the college athletic department.

College-bound athletes should schedule their sports physical early in the summer before freshman year, because some universities require the completed medical packet months before the start of preseason training. Starting early also allows time to address any findings that require specialist evaluation, such as an EKG abnormality or a cardiac murmur that the college program’s team physician will want evaluated before clearing the athlete for preseason workouts.

Does Insurance Cover Sports Physicals With Dr. Oldham?

Dr. Oldham bills sports physicals under preventive visit codes when they are combined with a well-child visit, which means most insurance plans cover the visit with no out-of-pocket cost beyond the standard preventive care copay. When the sports physical is performed as a stand-alone visit (without the well-child component), some plans cover it as a preventive service while others classify it as a non-covered service. The front desk verifies coverage when the appointment is scheduled and informs the family of any expected cost. Self-pay rates for a stand-alone sports physical are available for families without coverage.

Dr. Oldham recommends combining the sports physical with the annual well-child visit whenever possible, because the combined visit ensures full preventive care (immunizations, developmental screening, anticipatory guidance) while also completing the sports clearance form. That approach maximizes the insurance benefit and gives Dr. Oldham the opportunity to address any health concern beyond the sport-specific exam.

How Do I Schedule a Sports Physical With Dr. Oldham?

Frequently Asked Questions About Sports Physicals