Sports Injuries/Physicals

Sports Injuries

At Austintown Emergency Room, we encourage sports and exercise programs because of the many health benefits gained. Depending on the sport, participation offers great cardiovascular exercise, the development of hand-eye coordination, a reduction in the risk of heart disease and the fostering of teamwork, to name a few. However, we must keep in mind that our bodies have limits and children and adolescents, middle-aged athletes and women are particularly vulnerable to injuries.

Each year, over 20 million Americans suffer sports injuries and nearly 35% of those require medical treatment. In fact, about 25% of all traumas result from sports injuries, second only to motor vehicle injuries.

Athletes must realize that whatever the injury is, there is hardly ever a good reason to “work through” the pain. By continuing activity, further harm may occur. Medical treatment should be sought immediately if any of the following symptoms are present: severe pain, swelling or numbness, if the situation becomes non weight bearing or if pain or a dull ache is accompanied by increased swelling, joint abnormality or instability.

At Austintown Emergency Room, we diagnose and treat sports injuries day or night. We notify and consult promptly with the athlete’s family physician and refer to and consult with specialists when necessary.

Sports Physicals

When student athletes in the state of Ohio join a sports or exercise program, they must always be familiar with the activities involved and what injuries could occur. But most importantly, they must have an annual sports physical, as required by the Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA), to determine if they are physically fit and able to participate or if they may require specified limitations.

The following steps are required to complete a sports physical:

  1. The athlete receives an OHSAA authorization form and a pre-participation physical examination form that must be filled out completely and signed. The forms are available from their school system directly or here at Austintown Emergency Room.
    Note: Students under the age of 18 years old may not participate in an OHSAA-sponsored sport unless the student’s and parent’s/guardian’s signatures are included on the forms.
  2. The first part of the sports physical is a “history” section. Athletes are asked a series of questions pertaining to their medical and social history. These questions are important because the answers could possibly affect the ability to participate or could even affect the athlete’s health in general.
  3. A board-certified physician conducts the actual sports physical, which is a complete and through physical examination. Upon completion, our physician discusses the exam in detail and informs of any necessary limits or restrictions.
  4. The athlete is provided with a copy of the physical exam results and authorization forms to submit to the proper official(s) of the school sports activity program.
  5. A copy of the athlete’s physical exam results is kept on file at Austintown Emergency Room for comparison to future physical exams and sports-related injuries.

When an unexpected sports injury occurs that needs immediate attention, visit Austintown Emergency Room for the best possible care available. In addition to emergency care, sports physical exams are available 24 hours a day for walk-ins or by appointment. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call 330-792-2020 anytime.