On a recent Saturday morning, more than 600 student athletes from local high schools received their annual sports physicals for the upcoming school year. For the fourth year in a row, Piedmont Athens Regional Orthopedic Sports Medicine hosted the event at no cost as a benefit to local athletes. 

"In order to compete in high school athletics, these students are required to complete a pre-participation sports physical exam," said Katie Terrell, an athletic trainer at Piedmont Athens Regional Medical Center who helped coordinate the event. "We are happy to work with our educational partners to make sure that these students receive convenient care close to home and meet this important state requirement."

Students participating in the sports physical event attend high schools in the area, including the 10 high schools that partner with the Piedmont Athens Regional Orthopedic Sports Medicine Program for athletic training and other sports medicine services.

During the physicals, student athletes received an overall health screening of height, weight, heart rate, blood pressure, and eye screening. The goal of pre-participation sports physicals is to find student athletes who may be more likely to get hurt or have other health problems before they compete.

This annual event provides an avenue for parents and guardians to meet the school physical requirements as well as meet the physicians, physician assistants, athletic trainers, and staff providing care on the playing fields at local high schools.