Local Researchers Study Sports Physicals and Heart Conditions

By Sudha Kamath, GMU

A team led by George Mason University researchers says not enough is being done uniformly across the United States to ensure the safety of children when it comes to detecting cardiac and other health conditions through sports physicals.

Shane Caswell of the College of Education and Human Development’s School of Recreation, Health and Tourism co-authored the study with a team that included three other Mason faculty members and a graduate student. “State-Specific Differences in School Sports Preparticipation Physical Evaluation (PPE) Policies” appears in the January 2015 issue of Pediatrics, the official journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics.

It examined current policies in 50 states and in Washington, D.C., and found the requirements for their use and the content of the evaluations vary and are determined individually by each state.

“No one had studied enough until now whether best practices are being used uniformly across the country,” the professor says. “The pre-participation physical evaluation plays an important role in ensuring safe participation in sport. Our findings demonstrate that many states have been slow to adopt best practices and further reiterates a need for nationwide PPE standardization.”

Caswell says ultimately, the findings serve as a reminder that the implementation of best practices is an on-going process, not a singular event.

“Healthcare providers and policy makers must have an understanding of the best available evidence and work collaboratively to see it’s properly implemented, rigorously evaluated and improved upon in a timely fashion,” Caswell says.

The study found that while 98 percent of states require a physical exam before sports participation, 53 percent of the states use outdated or generic forms. Newer or more specific forms include questions about the athlete’s family and cardiac history.

Including these components in addition to a physical exam can help increase detection of rare cardiac abnormalities that can lead to sudden death in athletes.

Read more at GMU.edu

Photo Provided: Mary Chabolla was a master’s student in exercise, fitness and health promotion when she worked on the research team with Shane Caswell. Photo by Evan Cantwell