Sport Physicals available at Missoula Bone & Joint

Montana High School Association Update

Athletes, coaches and parents involved in fall sports in Missoula, Montana and surrounding areas are hopeful that fall sports will return soon.  Mark Beckman, Executive Director of Montana High School Association, MHSA released a memo on July 27, 2020 about a plan to return to school sports during this pandemic. The MHSA outlined a 5-tier system that will help schools navigate the fall sports season. Missoula County Public Schools has been working closely with the Missoula County Health Department to establish guidelines to keep our athletes and community safe while participating in a fall sports season. Missoula Bone & Joint Athletic Trainers who provide sports medicine services to 19 area high schools have been very active in the discussion, planning and implementing of policy and procedure to enhance the probability that high school sports will have a fall sports season.

Do you need a Sports Physical?

Even with this uncertainty, it is important that our athletes are prepared for their fall season, and part of that preparation is completing a Sports Physical – Pre-Participation Physical Exam before the start of the season. If this is still on your To-Do-List please call our clinic (406) 721-4436 to schedule your  Sports Physical. Dr. Rob Amrine at Missoula Bone & Joint is a primary care sports medicine physician. He offers a thorough sports physical for all athletes. He spends time with you completing a physical evaluation but also educates on the social challenges of being an athlete.

Here is the Montana High Schools Pre-Participation Form that needs to be submitted to your coach before you can participate in fall sports. Please print out this form and have it ready at your Sports Physical Appointment.

If you have any questions about getting a Sports Physical at Missoula Bone & Joint please call Dr. Amrine’s orthopedic assistant Becca, directly at (406)532-8783.

What is the purpose of the Sports Physical?

The purpose of the Sports Physical or Pre-Participation Physical Evaluation (PPE) is to identify athletes that may be at risk for further injury or illness and to refer these athletes for additional medical evaluation prior to allowing them to participate. The specific purposes include the following:

• To identify athletes at risk of sudden death
• To identify medical conditions that may require further evaluation and treatment before participation
• To identify orthopedic conditions that may require further evaluation and treatment, including physical therapy, before participation
• To satisfy legal requirements of athletic governing boards

A sports physical evaluation at Missoula Bone & Joint is a supplement to your annual preventive care exams done by your primary care physician.

Get to know your school Athletic Trainer

As an athlete or a parent, you have an important resource at your school, your Athletic Trainer. Please get to know your Athletic Trainer because they can really help you participate at your best during your sports season. Athletic trainers are licensed healthcare professionals who have a wealth of knowledge and experience working with athletes.

An athletic trainer must earn a degree from an accredited athletic training curriculum. More than 70 percent of certified athletic trainers hold at least a master’s degree. Classroom learning is enhanced through clinical education experiences. Accredited programs include formal instruction in areas such as:

• Risk management and injury prevention
• Human anatomy and physiology
• Pathology of injuries and illnesses
• Orthopedic clinical examination and diagnosis
• Assessment of injury/illness
• Medical conditions and disabilities
• Acute care of injuries and illnesses
• Therapeutic modalities
• Conditioning, rehabilitative exercise, and referral
• Pharmacology
• Psychosocial intervention and referral
• Nutritional aspects of injuries and illnesses
• First aid and emergency care
• Health care administration

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