Health Report: Free sport physicals offered at local clinic

FAIRBANKS, Alaska (KTVF) - Football, volleyball, cross country running, and more. The start of August means that school is right around the corner and so are fall sports.

For any young athlete, they already may know that sport physicals are mandatory for joining any sports team that interests them. The Orthopedic and SportsMedicine Clinic of Fairbanks offers free sport physicals for any student looking to be a part of an organized team sport.

“[Sport physicals] look at all the major organ systems, we do an eye exam, we do a hearing exam, [and a] musculoskeletal exam [to] make sure there [are no] abnormalities.” says Dr. Mark Wade, an othropedic surgeon with the Orthopedic and SportsMedicine Clinic of Fairbanks, “We listen to the heart, lungs, kidneys, and ask the child if they’re having any problems with their diet, and otherwise if there’s any other major problems that they’re having constitutionally.”

Since young athletes are, well - young - their bodies are still under constant change and growth. It is important to get these exams, along with routine check ups, every 12 to 18 months.

While most serious health conditions or issues are found way earlier in a child’s life, a sports physical is just to make sure that your body has not seen any recent health changes and to ensure your body is able to handle the physical conditions it will be put through when participating in sports.

“Having an annual check up can never be wrong, especially if you’re being seen by a physician just to make sure everything is okay,” says Dr. Wade.

Helping you score that touchdown, get that new PR, and bump, set, spike your way into a successful sports season, you can get your free sports physical at the Orthopedic and SportsMedicine Clinic of Fairbanks located at 2310 Peger Road.

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