Preparticipation physical evaluation in sport

Abstract

In 1976 the American Medical Association's Committee on Medical Aspects of Sports recognized the importance of the preparticipation physical evaluation (PPE) and recommended completion of a PPE prior to athletic participation. The American Academy of Pediatrics fourth edition (PPE-4) monograph, published in 2010, is a consensus document on sports related PPE consisting of contributions from seven health care organizations. Although the PPE was initially intended to fulfill school-based legal and medical requirements, the primary goal of the current examination is to maximize safe participation by adolescents in physical activities. However, research-based evidence supporting the efficacy of the PPE to ensure safe participation, particularly regarding musculoskeletal injury, is lacking. Future multisite studies need to be implemented to assess the potential benefits of preparticipation physical evaluations on reducing the incidence of serious medical problems. Utilization of the current PPE-4 screening form and its impact on the healthcare of the physically active should be a major area of inquiry in the medical field.