USA Health provides physicals for hundreds of high school athletes

To ensure players are healthy and prepared for fall sports, USA Health performed physical evaluations for 450 Mobile County Public Schools high school athletes on July 16 at the USA Mitchell Center.

During the physicals, USA Health providers checked vital signs including heart and respiratory rates, blood pressure and vision. They also evaluated players who may have more serious conditions such as sickle cell disease. One goal of the event was to help young athletes become better informed on ways to stay healthy throughout the year.

“It’s extremely important for athletes to get their physicals and stay on top of their health,” said James Slauterbeck, M.D., professor and chair of orthopaedic surgery at the University of South Alabama College of Medicine and an orthopaedic surgeon at USA Health. “We want to be sure athletes are getting the proper screenings, so they can be confident about their health when it’s time to play their sports.”

USA Health physicians hope to provide more physical examination events to students-athletes in Mobile and Baldwin counties. USA Health departments that participated in the event included orthopaedic surgery, OB/GYN and family medicine.