Over 300 doctors and nurses from top practices in the city of Philadelphia volunteer their time for this event. Many of them even work with major league sports teams in the Philadelphia region. They review each athlete with the assistance of medical students from Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM) and Jefferson Medical College. The physicals are very thorough and consist of: prescreening and close review of medical history, general physical, Orthopedics, pulmonary review including a pulmonary function test (PFT), as well as an electrocardiogram (ECG/EKG) and if necessary an echocardiogram. Each screening takes approximately 30 to 45 minutes per athlete.

Doctors affiliated with the following Practices, Hospitals and Schools volunteer and participate in this great event:

• Steingard & Testa Associates, Inc.
• The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
• Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
• Jefferson School of Population Health
• Premier Orthopaedic & Sports Medicine Associates, LTD
• The Heart Center of Philadelphia, P.C.
• Booth, Bartolozzi Balderston Orthopaedics

The physical includes but is not limited to the following:

• Review of patient’s medical history
• Height/weight/vision screenings
• Blood pressure evaluation
• Heart/lungs tests (includes EKG machine and pulmonary function test)
• Echo Cardiogram if deemed necessary
• Abdomen/hernia
• Neurological testing
• Range of motion and flexibility
• An overall evaluation/review of the examination (with family if available)

All of these evaluations can identify a number of life-threatening and debilitating conditions that would not have been discovered in a standard sports physical. We are proud to note that the current AHO physical exceeds the standard for middle and high school athletes nationwide.