The International Olympic Committee (IOC) Consensus Statement on

Periodic Health Evaluation of Elite Athletes

March 2009

LJUNGQVIST Arne (Sweden) Chairman, IOC Medical Commission

JENOURE Peter (Switzerland) Coordinator PHE
Associate Professor of Sports Medicine Basel and Neuchâtel
Member of the IOC Medical & Scientific Group
Member Interfederal Commission FIMS
ENGEBRETSEN Lars (Norway) IOC, Head of Scientific Activities
Professor, Orthopaedic Centre, University of Oslo
Co-Chair, Oslo Sports Trauma Research Center
Norwegian School of Sport Sciences, Oslo
Panel members:

ALONSO Juan Manuel (Spain) Head of the Medical Department of Royal Spanish Athletic
Federation
Chairperson of IAAF Medical & Anti-Doping Commission
BAHR Roald (Norway) Professor of Sports Medicine, Chair, Oslo Sports Trauma
Research Center
Norwegian School of Sport Sciences, Oslo
Member of the IOC Medical & Scientific Group
CLOUGH Anthony (United Kingdom) Dental Director for LOCOG, Dental Director, “Sharrow
Dental Clinic”
Lecturer Sports Dentistry University College London
Lecturer Oral Health University of Essex
DE BONDT Guido (Belgium) Secretary General of the Belgian Olympic and Interfederal
Committee (BOIC)
DVORAK Jiri (Switzerland) Professor, Senior Consultant of the Department of
Neurology, Spine Unit Schulthess Clinic, Zurich
FIFA Chief Medical Officer
Member of the IOC Medical & Scientific Group
MALOLEY Robert (Canada) President and CEO PrivIT Inc. & PrivIT Healthcare
Inc.London Ontario, Canada
MATHESON Gordon (USA) Professor of Orthopaedics (Sports Medicine) and Human
Biology, Director of Sports Medicine
Head Team Physician, Stanford University Department of
Athletics
MEEUWISSE Willem (Canada) Professor, Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Calgary
Chair of the Sport Injury Prevention Research Centre
Director of Sport Medicine, Canadian Sport Centre Calgary

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MEIJBOOM Erik (Netherlands) Professor of Congenital Cardiology, Médecin Adjoint
University Hospital Center of Vaud, Lausanne, Switzerland
MOUNTJOY Margo (Canada) Sports Medicine Consultant: Health & Performance Centre
University of Guelph, McMaster University Medical School
Chairperson FINA Sports Medicine Committee
Member of the IOC Medical Commission
PELLICCIA Antonio (Italy) Scientific Director of the Institute of Sports Medicine and
Science of the Italian National Olympic Committee
SCHWELLNUS Martin (South Africa) Professor of Sports Science and Exercise Medicine,
University of Cape Town
Member of the IOC Medical & Scientific Group
SPRUMONT Dominique (Switzerland) Professor of Health Law,
Faculty of Law of University of Neuchâtel,
Deputy Director of Institute of Health Law, Neuchâtel
IOC:

SCHAMASCH Patrick (France) IOC Medical Director

GAUTHIER Jean-Benoît (France) IOC Technology Director
DUBI Christophe (Switzerland) IOC Sports Director
STUPP Howard (Canada) IOC Legal Director
THILL Christian (Luxemburg) Senior Legal Counsel, IOC

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Introduction
The Olympic Games is the largest sport event in the world. In Beijing, 10500 athletes competed,
selected from a large group of elite athletes in 204 countries. Sports participation on the elite
level, aside from winning medals, fame and other rewards, is also important from a health
perspective. There is no longer any doubt that regular physical activity reduces the risk of
premature mortality in general, and of coronary heart disease, hypertension, colon cancer,
obesity, and diabetes mellitus in particular. The question is whether the health benefits of sports
participation outweigh the risk of injury and long-term disability, especially in high-level
athletes. Sarna et al (2000) have studied the incidence of chronic disease and life expectancy of
former male world-class athletes from Finland in endurance sports, power sports and team
sports. The overall life expectancy was longer in the high-level athlete compared to a reference
group (75.6 versus 69.9 years). The same group also showed that the rate of hospitalization later
in life was lower for endurance sports and power sports compared to the reference group (Kujala
1996). This resulted from a lower rate of hospital care for heart disease, respiratory disease and
cancer. However, the athletes were more likely to have been hospitalized for musculoskeletal
disorders. Thus, the evidence suggests that although there is a general health benefit from sports
participation, injuries represent a significant side effect.

One priority of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) is to protect the health of the athlete.
During recent years, prevention of injuries and illnesses has been high on the IOC agenda.
During the Athens Games an injury surveillance system was applied for all team sports (Junge et
al 2006). During the Beijing Games, the IOC ran, for the first time, an injury surveillance
system covering all the athletes, showing a 10% incidence of injuries (Junge et al 2008). In
Vancouver and London the surveillance system will include disease conditions as well. The
surveillance studies are prerequisites for providing evidence for health development in sports as
well as for developing prevention programs. Another method to decrease injuries and diseases
in the elite athlete is to perform a pre-participation examination (PPE) or periodic health
evaluation (PHE) of all elite athletes (Junge at al 2009). PHE in various forms have been
available for many years, but a recent analysis (Wingfield et al) has questioned the efficacy of
PHEs in detecting serious problems in the elite athlete.

In March 2009, the IOC assembled an expert group to discuss the current state of health evaluations for
athletes, aiming to provide recommendations for a practical PHE for the elite athlete, as well as to outline
the need for further research. The task of the group was to review the benefits as well as potential
negative effects of PHE at the elite sport level. The group did not take any position as to whether PHE
should be recommended as compulsory for participation in sport. That is for the relevant sports
authorities to decide.

The PHE can serve many purposes. It includes a comprehensive assessment of the athlete’s
current health status and risk of future injury or disease and, typically, is the entry point for
medical care of the athlete. The PHE also serves as a tool for continuous health monitoring in
athletes. Recent advances in this field relate to: (i) data on sudden cardiac death and other
noncardiac medical problems, and the detection of risk factors and groups; (ii) a consensus
conference on concussion; (iii) data on eating disorders and (iv) data on risk factors for

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musculoskeletal injuries. This paper addresses each of these advances in more detail after a
discussion on the purpose of a PHE and the evidence we have supporting the different
components of the PHE.

Purposes of the medical evaluation

In a narrow sense, the main purpose of the PHE is to screen for injuries or medical conditions
that may place an athlete at risk for safe participation. Athletes may be affected by conditions
that do not have overt symptoms and that can only be detected by periodic health evaluations.
One example is cardiovascular abnormalities, such as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy,
arrythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy or congenital coronary arteries anomalies.
These are typically silent until a potentially fatal arrhythmia occurs, but may in some cases be
detected through a careful cardiovascular examination.

Screening is a strategy used in a population to detect a disease in individuals without signs or

symptoms of that disease. The intention is to identify pathologic conditions early, thus enabling
earlier intervention and management in the hope of reducing future morbidity and mortality.
Although screening may lead to an earlier diagnosis, not all screening programs have been
shown to benefit the person being screened.

To ensure that screening programs confer the intended benefit, the World Health Organisation
published what have become known as the Wilson-Jungner criteria for appraising a screening
programme (Wilson & Jungner 1968). The main criteria are that the condition being screened
for is an important health problem (depends not just on how serious the condition is, but also
how common it is), that there is a detectable early stage, that treatment at an early stage is of
more benefit than at a later stage and that a suitable test is available to detect disease in the early
stage.

From a public health perspective, there is insufficient evidence to date to mandate any specific
screening tests for elite athletes apart from those recommended for the general population. This
is mainly the consequence of the low risk of serious conditions in this population. An important
limitation is also the lack of suitable screening tests; such tests must be reliable (repeatable,
good inter-observer agreement), sensitive (detects all those with increased risk), specific (detects
only those with increased risk), affordable (ideally cheap, easy to perform, widely available),
acceptable to the screening population and subject to quality assurance.

However, the PHE may serve other purposes than just screening athletes for future health
problems. One obvious goal is to ensure that current health problems are managed appropriately
and, ultimately, to determine whether an athlete is medically suitable to engage in a particular
sport or event. Even elite athletes with easy access to medical care do not always seek medical
attention for injuries or disease, despite having significant symptoms.

Some silent conditions are common and, although not severe from a health perspective, may
influence sports performance. An example of this is mild iron deficiency, which is common in
female athletes. Periodic health evaluations and ongoing monitoring represent an opportunity to
diagnose and manage such conditions. They also provide an opportunity to identify conditions

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that are barriers to performance. An example is astigmatism, which can be detected on a simple
test of visual acuity. Another important function of periodic health evaluations is that they allow
the athlete an opportunity to establish a relationship with the health personnel who will be
involved in providing continuing care.

Finally, the PHE also represents an opportunity to look for characteristics which may put the
elite athlete at risk for future injury or disease. However, as mentioned above, there is limited
direct evidence to suggest that it is possible to predict future outcomes based on the PHE.
Nevertheless, there is evidence in some areas, such as injury risk factor assessment (Bahr &
Engebretsen 2009), that holds future promise and warrants investigation related to the PHE.
Depending on the sport and the age, ethnic origin and gender of the athlete, it may be prudent to
include an assessment of specific risk factors in the PHE.

General requirements of a PHE

It is important to address and balance the ethical and legal aspects of the PHE in order to help
protect the rights and responsibilities of athletes, physicians, sporting organizations and other
persons concerned. In the context of designing and implementing a PHE, the following
considerations need to be taken into account:

• PHE should be based on sound scientific and medical criteria.

• PHE should be performed in the primary interest of the athlete, that is, assessing his/her
health in relation to his/her practice of a given sport.
• PHE should be performed under the responsibility of a physician trained in sports
medicine, preferably by the physician responsible for providing ongoing medical care for
the athlete, e.g. the team physician.
• The decision concerning the nature and scope of the PHE should take into account
individual factors, such as the geographical region, the sport discipline, the level of
competition, age and gender of the athlete.
• The setting of the evaluation should be chosen to optimize the accuracy of the
examination and respect the privacy of the athlete. The PHE should preferably be carried
out in the physician’s office, which assures privacy, access to prior medical records, and
an appropriate patient-physician relationship.
• A physician can only perform a PHE with the free and informed consent of the athlete
and, if applicable, his/her legal guardian.
• If PHE evidences that an athlete is at serious medical risk, the physician must strongly
discourage the athlete from continuing training or competing until the necessary medical
measures have been taken.
• Based on such advice, it is the responsibility of the athlete to decide whether to continue
training or competing.
• If a physician is requested to issue a medical certificate, he or she must have explained in
advance to the athlete the reason for the PHE and its outcome, as well as the nature of
information provided to the third parties. In principle, the medical certificate may only

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 indicate the athlete’s fitness or unfitness to participate in training or competition and
should minimize disclosure of confidential medical information.

In many settings, the PHE is used to offer medical clearance to participate in sport and is seen as
a one-time certification for future involvement in elite sport. However, the evaluation of the
athlete’s health should ideally be seen as a dynamic, ongoing process.

While many aspects of the PHE will be common to all elite athletes, it should be tailored to be
gender, age, race, culture and sport specific when appropriate. If any injury or medical
condition is identified, it should be managed in a manner consistent with the existing standards
of medical care. If warranted, this may involve referral to the appropriate specialists for further
evaluation and management. It should be noted that the PHE is also the time that medications or
nutritional products in use or prescribed should be reviewed to determine if a Therapeutic Use
Exemption (TUE) application to the World Anti Doping Association (WADA) is needed.

The timing of the PHE should ideally allow for sufficient time for management of any injuries
or medical problems well before major competitions. For example, it is preferable to conduct a
PHE during the off-season so that rehabilitation or other treatment can restore the athlete to
optimal health before facing maximal physical stress.

As the PHE is the only contact that many elite athletes will have with medical personnel, it
should be seen as an opportunity for education regarding other health risks and health-related
behavior.

The following document is laid out in sections that correspond to the various areas of evaluation
appropriate to the elite athlete.

1. Cardiology

1.1 Introduction
The scope of the cardiovascular PHE is to detect potentially lethal cardiovascular disease in elite
athletes and start appropriate management to reduce the risk for sudden cardiac death and/or
disease progression in a timely fashion.

1.2 Evidence base

Cardiovascular (CV) risk of competitive sport participation
Regular participation in training and athletic competition is associated with an increased risk for
sudden cardiac death (SCD), with an average relative risk for athletes of 2.8 times compared to
their nonathletic counterpart (Corrado et al 2003). It is worthy to note, however, that sport is not
per se the cause for greater incidence of SCD. It is the combination of intensive physical
exercise in athletes with underlying cardiovascular disease, which can trigger ominous
arrhythmias leading to cardiac arrest. The relative risk of sport participation is different
according to the underlying disease, and it is greatest in case of cardiomyopathies (such as

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hypertrophic cardiomyopathy or arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy) or
congenital coronary arteries anomalies (Corrado et al 2003).

Rationale for CV evaluation in elite competitive athletes

The vast majority of the athletes dying suddenly do not experience premonitory symptoms
(Maron 2003); therefore, the PHE represents the only strategy capable to identify athletes with
silent cardiac disease, and allow appropriate management to reduce the risk of SCD and disease
progression. Identifying asymptomatic athletes with underlying cardiovascular disease through
the PHE is important because SCD could be prevented by lifestyle modification, including
(when necessary) restriction from competitive sports activity, but also prophylactic treatment by
drugs, implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) or other therapeutic options. Athletes
carrying an increased cardiac risk may have a favourable long-term outcome thanks to timely
identification and appropriate clinical management (Corrado et al 1998).

Rationale for including the 12-lead Electrocardiogram (ECG) in the PHE

Recent scientific evidence supports the role of ECG in reducing mortality in screened athletes
(Corrado et al 2006). This concept is based on the recognition that ECG is abnormal in most
individuals with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (up to 90%) and arrhythmogenic right ventricular
cardiomyopathy (up to 80%). The ECG can also identify athletes with WPW syndrome and ion
channel diseases, such as Lènegre conduction disease, long or short QT syndromes, and Brugada
syndrome (Corrado et al 2007, Lawless and Best 2008). However, there has been criticism
voiced related to available data on the use of ECG in the elite athlete is the lack of an
unscreened athletic control group. A comparison of athletes screened with ECG vs. athletes non-
screened will require two matched large athlete populations (several thousand athletes, in
consideration of the low incidence of cardiomyopathies) undergoing long-term follow-up (at
least two decades, due to the young age of athletes at initial evaluation).

It has been demonstrated that adding a 12-lead ECG examination to history and physical
examination results in a substantial increase in the ability to identify potentially lethal heart
disorders (Corrado et al 2007, Lawless and Best 2008) and this strategy has been endorsed in
“The Lausanne Recommendations” (Bille et al 2006) and the European Society of Cardiology
recommendations (Corrado et al 2005). However, it is not currently recommended by the
American Heart Association (Chaitman 2007, Myerburg and Vetter 2007).

1.3 Proposal for PHE

.
The following questions regarding cardiovascular abnormalities should be included:

Family history

• Family history of one or more relatives with disability or death of heart disease
(sudden/unexpected) before age 50
• Family history of cardiomyopathy, coronary artery disease, Marfan syndrome, long QT
syndrome, severe arrhythmias, or other disabling cardiovascular disease

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Personal history

• Syncope or near-syncope
• Exertional chest pain or discomfort
• Shortness of breath or fatigue out of proportion to the degree of physical effort
• Palpitations or irregular heartbeat

Physical examination should be performed according to the best clinical care and should
investigate the presence of:

• Musculoskeletal and ocular features suggestive of Marfan syndrome

• Diminished and delayed femoral artery pulses
• Mid- or end-systolic clicks
• Abnormal second heart sound (single or widely split and fixed with respiration)
• Heart murmurs (systolic grade >2/6 and any diastolic)
• Irregular heart rhythm
• Brachial, bilateral blood pressure >140/90 mmHg on more than one reading

The 12-lead ECG

The 12-lead ECG should be recorded on a non-training day, during rest, according to best
clinical practice. Interpretation of the ECG abnormalities can be categorized according to the
criteria defined by Corrado et al (2008) into two groups: 1) the most common in trained athletes
(sinus bradycardia, first degree AV block, notched QRS in V1 or incomplete right bundle branch
block, isolated QRS voltage criteria for LV hypertrophy) consistent with athlete’s age, ethnical
origin and level of athletic conditioning, and that do not require additional testing; 2) all other
less common ECG abnormalities should be further evaluated to exclude cardiovascular disease
(Fig 1).

Further investigations

At present, there is no agreement regarding the need for routine use of echocardiography in the
PHE. Neither is there a role for routine use of other imaging or invasive testing. However, in
the presence of abnormal findings either at history, physical examination or 12-lead ECG,
additional testing should be performed in order to confirm (or exclude) cardiovascular disease.
In most instances, echocardiography is the first-line test, but other imaging modalities (such as
cardiac magnetic resonance) or invasive testing, when necessary, may be pursued. In adult
athletes (> 35 years) exercise ECG testing in the context of PHE is efficient to detect otherwise
unsuspected cardiac abnormalities (Sofi 2008) and is currently recommended for elite athletes
with increased cardiovascular risk profile (Thompson PD 2007).

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1.4 Management of athletes with CV abnormalities
The IOC PHE Consensus Group recommends that any athlete identified with a CV abnormality
should be managed according to the current, widely accepted clinical recommendations, i.e.,
Bethesda Conference #36 and ESC recommendations (Maron and Zipes 2005, Pelliccia et al
2005). The group acknowledges that identification of cardiac disease in an athlete represents a
challenging question regarding the ethical, medical and legal consequence with particular regard
to the need for disqualification from competition. However, there is scientific evidence that
preventing athletes with specific cardiovascular abnormality from regular training and
competition is an efficient strategy for preventing SCD (Corrado et al 1998, Biffi et al 2004).
Unnecessary exclusion from participation of competitive athletes with non lethal diseases is a
problem. Therefore, there is a need for a common agreement of sports eligibility guidelines and
management of competitive athletes with cardiovascular diseases in the future (Pelliccia et al
2008). The main goal should be to reduce the number of unnecessary disqualifications and to
adapt (rather than restrict) sports activity in relation to the specific cardiovascular risk.

Finally, we recognize that young competitive athletes (< 18 years) require specific expertise in
the evaluation, interpretation of findings and management.

1.5 Educational programmes

The sport organizations together with scientific sport societies should encourage and support
educational activities intended to enhance the knowledge and skill of physicians involved in the
cardiology part of the PHE process.

1.6 Research
Although there are issues of debate regarding wide-scale mandatory use of the ECG for athlete
screening (Chaitman 2007, Pelliccia 2008), there is sufficient evidence to justify a staged
implementation with evaluation to assess the properties of the test (sensitivity, specificity,
predictive value) in a variety of sporting populations. Staged implementation would provide a
natural control group to measure differences in outcome between ECG screened and unscreened
groups. Finally, the mortality effects of a screening program documented in Italy need to be
replicated in other ethnic populations where the underlying disease conditions may differ from
those seen in Italy.

The sport organizations and scientific sport societies should encourage research that could
expand our current knowledge and data base regarding the mechanisms and strategies to prevent
SCD in competitive athletes.

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Fig 1. 12-lead ECG ABNORMALITIES

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2. Non-Cardiac Medical Conditions

2.1 Introduction
To date, the main elements of the PHE have been to screen elite athletes for possible risk for
sudden cardiovascular death (Beckerman et al 2004, Corrado et al 2005), musculoskeletal injury
(Garrick 2004), and head injury (McCrory 2004). Furthermore, elements of the PHE that focus
on non-cardiac medical conditions have to date been confined to hematological conditions
(Fallon 2004), lung disease, particularly exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (Holzer and
Brukner 2004), and specific medical concerns of the female athlete (Rumball and Lebrun 2004).

However, sports physicians who regularly perform medical assessments on elite athletes, as well
as members of the medical team that accompany athletes to the Olympic Games and other
international sports events, commonly encounter medical conditions that are non-injury related,
and are of a non-cardiac nature (Derman 2003, Derman 2004, Grissom et al 2006).

In one study, it was reported that 50% of the 1804 athletes seen at the multipurpose medical
facility at the 1996 Olympic Games were treated for non-injury related illnesses (Wetterhall et al
1998). In another study conducted in the athlete medical clinic during the 2002 Winter Olympic
Games, medical diagnoses, notably respiratory conditions, were more commonly reported than
traumatic conditions (Grissom et al 2002). Furthermore, in two other studies, over 50% of the
medical consultations in a participating team during two Olympic Games were non-injury
related (Derman 2003, Derman 2004). It is important to note that the frequency of cardiac-
related medical consultations reported in these two studies was very low (Derman 2003, Derman
2004).

Therefore, medical conditions in systems other than the cardiovascular system are very common
in elite athletes. These conditions can occur immediately before competitions, during periods of
training in preparation for competitions, and after competitions. In two reports, the frequency of
medical conditions reported in athletes during the Olympic Games has been documented (Table
1). These data indicate that medical conditions, other than cardiovascular conditions, are
common in elite athletes, yet these conditions have not received much attention in a PHE. A
spectrum of medical conditions can occur in athletes across a number of medical systems (Table
2) and these can be identified during a PHE (Rifat et al 1995, Lively 1999). Finally, a number of
these conditions are transient and can be treated. Therefore, clearance for sports participation
when athletes suffer from these conditions is an ongoing process and requires ongoing
monitoring and assessment.

The purpose of this section is to 1) briefly review the evidence base for including elements in
the PHE that focus on non-cardiac medical conditions, 2) recommend elements in the medical
history, physical examination and special investigations that could be included in a PHE to
identify significant non-cardiac medical conditions, and 3) suggest future directions for research
in this area.

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2.2 Evidence base: Non-cardiac medical conditions
There is very little data available on the inclusion of assessment for non-cardiac medical
conditions in a PHE. Evidence for the inclusion of screening tests to identify non-cardiac
medical conditions in a PHE is therefore largely limited to expert opinion and case series.
However, the identification of some non-cardiac medical conditions is frequently included in the
medical history, physical examination and profile of special investigations of existing PHE
recommendations (Joy et al 2004, Batt et al 2004, Brukner et al 2004, Fuller et al 2007,
Constantini and Mann 2005, Nichols et al 1995). The evidence base for including screening to
identify non-cardiac medical conditions in a PPE will be briefly reviewed below.

2.2.1 Pulmonary system

The rationale for including an assessment of the pulmonary system in a PHE is that respiratory
symptoms that are suggestive of asthma are common in athletes (Fitch et al 2008). At the time of
a PHE, these symptoms can be identified, and the clinical examination, together with objective
special tests can be used to confirm the diagnosis of asthma (Fitch et al 2008). The prevalence of
asthma in athletes is high and varies from 3-23% in summer sports to 12-50% in winter sports
(Carlsen et al 2008, Cummiskey et al 2008). Furthermore, during a PHE, respiratory tract
conditions other than asthma that can also give rise to respiratory symptoms in athletes can be
identified (Cummiskey et al 2008).

2.2.2 Hematological

The main rationale for including routine hematological assessment during a PHE is based on the
higher than expected prevalence of decreased iron stores in athletes, particularly female athletes
(Fallon 2004, Gropper et al 2006, Sinclair and Hinton 2005, Fallon 2007, Eliakim et al 2002,
Rietjens et al 2002, Di Santolo et al 2008). An additional rationale is to determine if the athlete
has anemia (iron deficiency or other), and to identify other illnesses such as infections (Fallon
2004). It is noteworthy that hematological testing has been suggested as a screening/monitoring
tool for blood doping (hematological passport) as well (Schumacher et al 2002). The likelihood
of a positive result on routine hematological screening is higher in physically active females
compared with male athletes (Fallon 2004, Fallon 2007, Dubnov et al 2006).

2.2.3 Allergies

The rationale for including assessments in the PHE to identify allergies, particularly allergic
rhinoconjunctivitis, in elite athletes is based on the fact that 1) significantly higher than expected
prevalence of allergic conditions has been observed in elite athletes (Katelaris et al 2006,
Katelaris et al 2000, Katelaris 2001, Hawarden et al 2002); 2) travelling athletes could be
exposed to a variety of allergens at different venues where international competitions take place
(Katelaris et al 2000); and 3) acute and chronic allergies could result in morbidity and also
reduce athletic performance (Katelaris et al 2003).

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2.2.4 Infections and immunological

The rationale to consider infective disease in a PHE is based on a number of important

considerations. Firstly, it is established that during intense training and immediately following
competitions, there is evidence of immune suppression in athletes that could predispose them to
infective disease (Gleeson 2006, Ekblom et al 2006). Secondly, acute systemic infective illness
is a contra-indication to participation in sports because of the risk of viral myocarditis, organ
injury (splenomegaly) and in some cases increased risk of transmission of the infective illness to
fellow athletes (Schwellnus et al 2008, Luke and d’Hemecourt 2007, Pirozzolo and MeMay
2007). Thirdly, the PHE provides an opportunity to assess whether an athlete has been
immunized against infective conditions, including those that may be associated with
international travel to specific regions. There are a number of infective illnesses that could be
considered when performing a PHE and these have been reviewed recently (Schwellnus et al
2008, Luke and d’Hemecourt 2007).

2.2.5 Ear, nose and throat (ENT)

The rationale for including the ear, nose and throat (ENT) assessment in a PHE is based on the
high incidence medical consultations during international competitions that are related to this
system in elite athletes (Table 1). Furthermore, the common illnesses encountered in the ENT
system of athletes are allergies (Katelaris et al 2006, Katelaris et al 2003) and upper respiratory
tract infections (Grissom et al 2002, Ekblom et al 2006, Schwellnus et al 2008, Malm 2006).
The basis for including this spectrum of conditions in PHE has already been discussed.

2.2.6 Dermatological

The rationale for including a dermatological assessment in the PHE is that skin disorders are
very common in athletes (Adams 2008, Adams 2002, Adams 2003). Furthermore, participation
in sports may predispose athletes to certain skin conditions and there is a risk of transmission of
certain skin conditions during sports (Adams 2008). Therefore, clearance to compete may have
to be withheld temporarily if athletes suffer from some skin infections (Adams 2008).

2.2.7 Urological

The rationale for including an assessment of the urological system in the PHE is not based on
strong evidence. However, it is known that 1) renal and bladder disease can be asymptomatic;
and 2) conditions such as asymptomatic haematuria, proteinuria and pyuria are often
encountered when screening in athletes is conducted (Rayner and Schwellnus 2008). Although
these conditions may not be clinically significant, they do however require further evaluation to
exclude underlying urological disease.

2.2.8 Gastro-intestinal (GIT)

The rationale for including an assessment of the gastro-intestinal (GIT) system in the PHE is
that GIT symptoms are very common in athletes (particularly endurance athletes) during sports
participation (Schwellnus and Wright 2008). Exclusion of significant underlying GIT disease is

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therefore important in athletes, particularly those that regularly suffer from GIT symptoms
during exercise (Schwellnus and Wright 2008). Furthermore, GIT conditions are also frequently
encountered when travelling with athletes to international competitions (Derman 2003, Derman
2004).

2.2.9 Nervous system (neurological)

The rationale for including assessment of neurological conditions in the PHE of athletes is that
neurological conditions are common (McCrory 2008) and can include a variety of different
conditions such as headaches and epilepsy. Furthermore, although uncommon, stroke can occur
in younger adults, including athletes. It has been suggested that the PHE should include
screening for the risk factors of stroke in young athletes (McCrory 2008).

2.2.10 Endocrine/metabolic

The rationale for routine enquiry to determine if elite athletes have underlying endocrine and
metabolic disease is 1) that these conditions do occur in elite athletes; 2) one of the more
common endocrine conditions in elite athletes is diabetes mellitus - nine Olympic athletes
required therapeutic use exemption for the use of insulin in the 2004 Summer Olympic Games
(Tsitsimpikou et al 2009); and 3) elite athletes with existing endocrine and metabolic disease
may require counseling and advice because medication they may use could contravene doping
control regulations (Anderson et al 2008).

2.2.11 Ophthalmology

The principle rationale for including ophthalmological assessment in the PHE is that ophthalmic
conditions, particularly reduced visual acuity, have been reported in 4.5-25% of college athletes
undergoing a PHE (Rifat et al 1995, Lively 1999, Carek and Mainous 2003). Other less common
ophthalmological conditions can also be identified.

2.3 Proposal for content of the PHE

Assessment of non-cardiac medical conditions during a PHE would include an appropriate
systematic medical history (Table 3). A directed physical examination and selected special
investigations (Table 4) should follow. Routine investigations that are recommended are 1)
urinalysis (males and females) and 2) tests for iron stores (female athletes). According to best
medical practice guidelines, these elements should be included in the PHE to assess elite athletes
for the presence of non-cardiac medical conditions.

2.4 Possible future directions in research

Broad research areas:

• Defining the scope of the problem in each system (prevalence of non-cardiac medical
conditions in elite athletes)

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 • Determining the impact of these medical conditions on performance, short term risk, and
longer term outcome in elite athletes
• Investigate which diagnostic tests have the highest sensitivity, specificity and predictive
value for each condition
• Determine if identification and management of these conditions reduces morbidity and
improves performance in elite athletes

Table 1: Frequency (% of all formal medical consultations) of medical consultations at the

Olympic Games in a team

Sydney 2000 Athens 2004

Olympic Games 8 Olympic Games 9
Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT) 18 13
Pulmonary (Respiratory) 16 8
Nervous system (neurological) 16 4
Gastro-intestinal 6 6
Dermatological 2.5 16
Urological 2.5 0
Psychological/Psychiatric 2 3
Cardiology 1 3
Opthalmological 0.5 0.5
Other 4.5 6

Table 2: Non-cardiac systems that should be considered in a PHE

Pulmonary
Haematological
Allergies
Infections and immunological
Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT)
Dermatological
Urological and genital
Gastro-intestinal
Nervous system (neurological)
Endocrine/metabolic
Psychological/Psychiatric

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Table 3: A list of suggested questions in the medical history to identify non-cardiac conditions in a
PHE

Suggested question/s in the medical history *

Pulmonary system Do you have a past history or currently suffer from any symptoms of respiratory
(lung) disease including asthma, wheezing, cough, postnasal drip, hay fever, or
repeated flu like illness?
Hematological system Do you have a past history or currently suffer from any symptoms of disease of the
blood system including low iron stores, anemia, (in particular iron deficiency
anemia)?
Allergies Do you have a past history or currently suffer from any symptoms of allergies
including allergies to pollen, foods, medication, any plant material or any animal
material?
Infection/immunological Do you have a past history or currently suffer from any symptoms of disease of the
immune system including current infections, recurrent infections, HIV/AIDS,
leukemia, or are you using any immunosuppressive medication?
Ear, nose, throat (ENT) Do you have a past history or currently suffer from any symptoms of disease of the
ears (infections, hearing loss, pain), nose (sneezing, itchy nose, sinusitis, blocked
nose) or throat (sore throat, hoarse voice, swollen glands in the neck)?
Dermatological Do you have a past history or currently suffer from any symptoms of skin disease
including skin rashes, skin infections, itchy skin, allergies, or skin cancer?
Urological Do you have a past history or currently suffer from any symptoms of disease of the
kidney or bladder including past history of kidney or bladder disease, blood in the
urine, loin pain, kidney stones, frequent urination, or burning during urination?
Gastro-intestinal Do you have a past history or currently suffer from any symptoms of
gastrointestinal disease including heartburn, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain,
weight loss or gain (> 5kg), a change in bowel habits, chronic diarrhea, blood in
the stools, or past history of liver, pancreatic or gallbladder disease?
Neurological Do you have a past history or currently suffer from any symptoms of diseases of
the nervous system including past history of stroke or transient ischaemic attack
(TIA), frequent headaches, dizziness, blackouts, epilepsy, depression, anxiety
attacks, muscle weakness, nerve tingling, loss of sensation, muscle cramps, or
chronic fatigue?
Endocrine/metabolic Do you have a past history or currently suffer from any symptoms of metabolic or
hormonal disease including diabetes mellitus, thyroid gland disorders,
hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), or heat intolerance?
Opthalmological Do you have a past history or currently suffer from any symptoms of eye disease
or injury including decreased vision, pain in the eyes, itchy eyes, increased or
decreased tear production, discharge from the eye or red eyes?

*: If the answer to any of these questions is YES, further details and directed in-depth assessment is
required

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Table 4: Key elements in the physical examination for non-cardiac conditions in a PHE

Selected key components in the physical examination *

Pulmonary system Comprehensive examination including assessment of chest including
percussion, and auscultation
Hematological system Comprehensive examination including assessment for pallor, and evidence
of infections
Allergies Comprehensive examination for manifestations of acute and chronic allergy
Infection/immunological Comprehensive examination for lymphadenopathy, splenomegaly
Ear, nose, throat (ENT) Comprehensive examination including external auditory canal, tympanic
membrane, sinus tenderness, nasal septum, turbinate bones, oropharynx,
tonsils, indirect laryngoscopy (if indicated), cervical and regional
lymphadenopathy
Dermatological Comprehensive examination of sun exposed areas, assessment of skin
infections (fungal)
Urological Comprehensive examination including assessment for suprapubic
tenderness, abdominal examination for renal masses, genital examination
(males)
Gastro-intestinal Comprehensive abdominal examination for including assessment for
abdominal tenderness, organomegaly, and hernias
Neurological Comprehensive examination including assessment of cranial nerve
function, motor function, sensory function, reflexes, and the extrapyramidal
system
Endocrine/metabolic Comprehensive examination including assessment for the complications of
diabetes mellitus, and the clinical signs of thyroid disease
Opthalmological Comprehensive examination including assessment of visual acuity, visual
fields, infective and allergic eye disease, fundoscopy
*a) The list of suggested physical signs is not intended to be comprehensive but to serve as a guideline
b) If a positive finding is identified, further in-depth assessment with appropriate special investigations is
required

3. Concussion in Sport
3.1 Introduction
Concussion in sport is defined as a complex pathophysiological process affecting the brain,
induced by traumatic biomechanical forces (Aubry et al 2002). Estimates in the United States
range from 1.6 to 3.8 million concussions per year related to sport and recreation (Langois 2006
and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 2007). There is evidence that concussions are
particularly prevalent in collision sport (Browne 2000, Guskiewicz 2006).

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3.2 Evidence base
The IOC and several members of the present consensus group participated in the recent Zurich
Consensus Statement on Concussion in Sport (McCrory et al 2009) and endorse its concepts and
principles. A structured consensus-development conference format was used, modelled after the
protocol of the National Institutes of Health, including development of evidence-based
recommendations. The specific evidence and rationale are provided in detail in the manuscript
by McCrory et al.

3.3 Proposal for content of the PHE

It is recognized that a structured concussion history is an important component of the PHE, and
should include specific questions regarding:

• previous symptoms of a concussion; not just the perceived number of past concussions;
appreciating the fact that many athletes will not recognize all the concussions they may
have suffered in the past
• all previous head, orofacial or cervical spine injuries
• whether repeated concussions produce disproportionate severity of symptoms given the
amount of impact; alerting the clinician to a progressively increasing vulnerability to
injury
• use of protective equipment such as helmets, facial protection and mouth guards;
including their age and state of repair
• the ability of the athlete to adopt protective behavior such as avoiding overly aggressive
or high risk situations

The purpose in obtaining such a history may identify athletes that fit into a high risk category
and provides an opportunity for the healthcare provider to educate the athlete in regard to the
significance of concussive injury.

3.4 Possible future directions for concussion in sport

The Concussion in Sport Group (McCrory et al 2009) had extensive discussion and general
agreement on the principle of doing baseline assessment (neuropsychological, balance, etc)
during the PHE in high risk sports. The intent is to provide a comparison point for possible
future post injury testing. While a specific recommendation for baseline examination in the
PHE was not included in the concussion consensus document, one of the suggested future
directions in research was the “clinical assessment where no baseline assessment has been
performed” (McCrory et al 2009).

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4. Dental Injuries

4.1 Introduction

Oral health evaluation has significant relevance to the establishment of an improvement in oral
health. Good oral health will ensure good function and the ability of the athlete to compete at an
optimal level without being compromised by dental disease or an otherwise preventable
emergency.

4.2 Evidence base

Statistics collected by the IOC at recent summer games (Fasel 2008) have highlighted the level
of dental disease in many participants. The use of a DMF Index (“decayed-missing-filled” a
dental screening tool) and appropriate radiographs to measure dental disease may also identify
oral health behavior and the extent of poor oral health prevalent in our elite athlete group (Levin
et al 2004, WHO 4th ed. 1997; 40-7). The identification of erosion, the prevalence of which is
estimated to be 25.4 – 37.4 % in athletes, may be an indicator of excessive use of sports
beverages, which are acidic in nature (Sirimaharaj et al 2008, Vasan 1998). In addition, erosion
may be caused by acidic reflux, which may be indicative of an underlying eating disorder
(Milosevic 1999).

The presence of wisdom teeth (Fuselier et al 2002, Yamada et al 1998) and certain
malocclusions are risk factors for future injury (Kvittem et al 1998, Burden 1995). The presence
or absence of wisdom teeth may affect the risk profile for mandibular fracture in combative
sports (Andrade et al 2007, Ma’aita et al 2000, Schwimmer et al 1983). Additionally, associated
pericoronitis and periodontal infection may affect athlete performance (Kerr 1983).

4.3 Proposal for content of the PHE

The physical examination should include the following elements:

• DMF; which is an acronym for decayed, missing and filled teeth. These three elements
together with recent dental history can be used as an indicator for underlying oral health.

Other risk factors for orofacial injury that can be targeted for prevention are:

• Malocclusion where the overjet (overlap of upper over lower incisors) is greater than
6mm (Kvittem et al 1998, Burden 1995).

• Presence of braces or orthodontic appliances (Croll et al 1996).

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4.4 Possible future directions in oral health
Efforts should be made to educate athletes and authorities about the considerable benefits in
preventing dental injuries by providing custom made mouthguards for those taking part in “at
risk” sports (e.g. collision and contact sports)(Andrade et al 2008), and to continue to measure or
quantify the benefits. Additionally, further studies are required to assess more accurately the oral
health of the athlete population and educational programs should be expanded and targeted to
those sports where the risks identified above influence athlete health (Cornwell 2005, Badel et al
2007). The IOC group encourages athletes to be provided with regular dental examinations

5. Musculoskeletal Injuries

5.1 Introduction
Musculoskeletal injuries are common in sports. Acute injuries are most common in sports in
which the speed is high and the risk of falling is great (e.g. downhill skiing) and in team sports
where there is significant contact between players (e.g. ice hockey and soccer). Overuse injuries
make up the large portion of injuries in aerobic sports that require long training sessions with
repetitive motion (e.g. long-distance running, cycling or cross-country skiing). However, a large
number of overuse injuries also occur in technical sports, in which the same movement is
repeated numerous times (e.g. tennis, javelin throwing, weightlifting and high jumping). The
injury profile also varies from sport to sport; each sport has its distinctive injury pattern. This
pattern must be considered carefully when designing the musculoskeletal component of the
PHE. The practitioner must be familiar with the most common injury types associated with the
sport in question and the examination should be targeted on these injury types and their risk
factors.

The main objective of the musculoskeletal PHE is to detect current injuries and ensure that these
are managed appropriately. While an injured athlete may have gone through rehabilitation in the
middle of the season, focus is often on return to play, sometimes using taping and bracing to
protect from further injury. The off-season should be used as an opportunity to get the athlete
back to full fitness. Therefore, the best timing of the PHE may be the immediate post-season
(while there is still time to work on problems that are identified) rather than the pre-season.

A previous injury is the most consistent risk factor for new recurrent injuries. This has been
demonstrated for a number of different injury types, such as ankle sprains, muscle strains and
knee ligament injuries. A previous injury could compromise joint function through reduced
mechanical stability or neuromuscular control, or muscle function through scar tissue formation,
reduced strength, or more subtle changes in the length-tension relationship. It follows then, that
training programs to restore strength and neuromuscular control can help prevent recurrent
injuries. One important aim of the musculoskeletal PHE is therefore to identify sequelae or
deficits resulting from previous injuries.

Ideally, the musculoskeletal PHE should be used to identify athletes at risk for injury. However,
although a number of risk factors have been identified which makes an athlete susceptible to

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different injuries, the examination needs to be focused on the characteristics and requirements of
the sport in question. A complete review of risk factors associated with injuries to the different
body regions can be found in the IOC Handbook on Sports Injury Prevention (Bahr &
Engebretsen 2009).

5.2 Evidence base

The evidence base for designing a musculoskeletal PHE to detect risk factors for future injury is
limited. Players with a history of previous injury or symptoms indicating reduced function are a
group with an increased injury risk that should be targeted for soft tissue examinations and with
specific prevention programs addressing their deficits. However, in the asymptomatic athlete
with no history of previous injury, there is limited evidence to prescribe specific tests – even
using more advanced functional tests – to identify athletes at risk. One limitation is that the
reproducibility of such tests is often low. Another is that the predictive value of such tests is for
the most part unknown.

5.3 Proposal for the content of the PHE

The fundamental element of the musculoskeletal PHE is obtaining a thorough history of current
and previous musculoskeletal injuries. To improve the history, one can use self-report forms;
these should go in detail for the regions and injury types associated with the sport in question to
ensure that no injuries and symptoms are missed. The clinical examination should follow up on
any symptoms or injuries reported, consisting of inspection, palpation, range of motion, strength
and laxity exams, effusions, muscle testing and relevant functional exams. Additional imaging
(e.g. ultrasound, MRI) or more advanced functional tests (e.g. strength tests, balance tests) may
be indicated based on history and physical examination.

5.4 Possible future research directions

Large-scale population-based studies are needed to evaluate the components of history and
examination that can be used to identify athletes at risk, intervene and change outcome.

6. PHE Issues Specific to Women

6.1 Introduction
Female athlete participation in sport has increased tremendously with 42% of the athletes at the Beijing
Olympic Games being female (International Olympic Committee 2008). Despite the well-documented
health benefits of exercise, there are two medical conditions unique to the female athlete that may have
long-term consequences that can be avoided through early detection and treatment. Low energy
availability from caloric intake inadequate to meet the energy requirements of exercise can lead to
secondary menstrual disorders and low bone density. This is referred to as the female athlete triad (Nattiv
et al 2007). In addition, iron deficiency anemia is more common in the female athlete (Peeling et al 2008).
The health and performance consequences of these two conditions can be prevented through early

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detection and treatment. The PHE provides a unique opportunity for the team physician to detect and treat
low energy availability, menstrual disorders, low bone density and iron deficiency anemia.

6.2 Evidence base

The prevalence of eating disorders (anorexia nervosa (AN), bulimia nervosa (BN), anorexia athletica
(AA), and eating disorders not otherwise specified (ED-NOS)) in the sport population was found to be
15-31% in comparison with 5-13% in the general population. The prevalence in males is generally lower
than in females (Sundgot-Borgen and Torstveit 2004, Byrne and McLean 2002). The sports at highest
risks are the aesthetic sports that emphasize thinness, endurance sports and weight class sports (Sundgot-
Borgen and Torstveit 2004). The prevalence of secondary amenorrhea varies widely depending on the
type of sport and is reported as high as 65% in long distance runners (Dusek 2001) in comparison to 2-5%
in the general population (Bachmann and Kemmann 1982). The incidence of secondary amenorrhea
increases with weekly mileage (Sanborn et al 1982), with athletes in sports emphasizing leanness
(Torstveit and Sundgot-Borgen 2005) and in athletes less than 15 years of age (Baker et al 1981). The
incidence of primary amenorrhea is 22% in cheerleading, diving and gymnastics (Beals and Manore
2002) in comparison to <1% in the general population (Chumlea et al 2003). Likewise, the frequency of
low bone mineral density in athletes is two to four times greater than the general population (Khan et al
2002). Stress fractures occur more frequently in athletes with abnormal menstrual cycles and low bone
mineral density (Bennell et al 1999). Short and long term consequences of the female athlete triad are
well documented in the literature and effective treatment exists (Nattiv et al 2007).

For the detection of eating disorders and disordered eating, several validated screening tools exist: the
Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q) (Carter et al 2001, Passi et al 2003, Wolk et al
2005), the SCOFF Questionnaire (Luck et al 2002, Morgan et al 1999) and the Eating Disorder Screen for
Primary Care (ESP) (Cotton et al 2003). A comparative study of the SCOFF and ESP screening tools by
Cotton et al. identified four questions that could serve as positive predictors and two as negative
predictors of disordered eating (Table 1, included in Appendix 1 PHE Form) (Cotton et al 2003). A
population of high school endurance runners with low bone mineral density was found to score higher on
the EDE-Q subscale of Dietary Restraint in comparison with other subscales. The validated questions
correlating caloric restriction and low bone mineral density are shown in Table 2 (Barrack et al 2008).

Table 2. Dietary Restraint Questions (EDE-Q) correlated with low bone mineral density in high
school endurance runners (21)

1. Have you been consciously trying to restrict the amount of food you eat to influence your
shape or weight?
2. Have you gone for long periods of time (8hours or more) without eating anything in order to
influence your shape or weight?
3. Have you attempted to avoid eating any foods that you like in order to influence your shape
or weight?
4. Have you attempted to follow definite rules regarding your eating in order to influence your
shape or weight; for example, a calorie limit, a set amount of food, or, rules about what or
when you should eat?
5. Have you had a definite desire for your stomach to feel empty?

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6.3 Proposal for content for the PHE

The history and physical examination of the female athlete should address each component of the female
athlete triad. Validated questions to detect eating disorders and disordered eating should be utilized
(Table 2). Assessment of menstrual pattern and a history of stress fractures should be included. A systems
review may identify body systems affected by low energy availability. If so, completion of a nutritional
analysis identifies the athlete at risk for energy imbalance and iron deficiency.

A physical examination should include a body mass index. The following physical signs can be found in
advanced cases of eating disorders but are likely to be absent in early detection; lanugo, petechiae,
subconjunctival haemorrhages, swelling of the parotid glands, erosion of tooth enamel, bradycardia,
peripheral edema. A complete gynecological examination is recommended in the athlete with primary or
secondary amenorrhea.

The laboratory examination should include a CBC for all female athletes and a serum ferritin for those
athletes in endurance sports. For those athletes identified at risk for the female athlete triad based on a
screening questionnaire, physical examination abnormalities and initial blood work, measurement of body
composition is recommended. For these athletes, laboratory tests include a hormonal screen (TSH, LH,
FSH, estradiol, prolactin, Beta HCG, Testosterone, 17-OH -Progesterone, Sex Hormone Binding
Capacity, Cortisol, DHEA-S, Androstenadione), CBC, biochemistry screen, bone mineral density (iDXA
scan) to assess bone health, ECG to rule out electro conductive abnormalities from electrolyte disturbance
in eating disorders and a nutritional analysis to assess energy balance.

6.4 Future direction

6.4.1 Research

Further research should be directed toward ascertaining the cause – effect relationship between the female
athlete triad and sports participation. Validating the questions for detecting the triad is essential for
accurate diagnosis and for earlier identification of athletes who would benefit from intervention. Further
research into the relationship between low ferritin as a premonitor of iron deficiency anemia is important
for both medical and performance reasons.

6.4.2 Education

Health care professionals working with female athletes should be qualified and experienced in the
detection, diagnosis and treatment of the female athlete triad and iron deficiency anemia.
Educational programs for athletes and coaches focused on prevention of the female athlete triad and iron
deficiency anemia are recommended to decrease the incidence of these health concerns, to maximize
athletic performance and to ensure that female athletes enjoy the benefits of sport participation.

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7. Technology

7.1 Community of practice/training

The Internet represents an ideal platform for the establishment of a portal/community where
medical and scientific experts can share information for the purpose of enhancing best clinical
practice and advancing science related to PHE. It can also act as a forum for ongoing education
and training of the medical, administrative and athlete participants.

7.2 Data collection

Medical/research community portal

The PHE research project may contain a Web Portal where the sports medicine and scientific community
with an interest in PHE can access, review and comment on the latest information, results and progress of
this PHE research project.

Data collection tools

The questionnaire components of the PHE facilitate the standardization of the PHE and permits analysis
of the sensitivity and specificity of the questions asked. Where practical, the questionnaire components
can be completed via the Internet provided any such Internet based programs conform to the recognized
technology industry standards for network security and authentication, and that they are in compliance
with the local guidelines and/or standards for the collection and storage of Personal Health Information.
An internet based version of the PHE Questionnaire would be time-and cost-efficient incremental step in
the evolution of the PHE, enabling the participation of athletes, medical professionals and administrators
from jurisdictions with limited facilities and budgets. An Internet based Questionnaire application
provides an efficient means to enforce data collection standards across multiple input points, therefore
improving the accuracy of any research outcomes.

7.3 Data mining

Web based data repositories present an ideal environment within which de-identified aggregate
PHE data can be mined and analyzed, thereby facilitating the ongoing improvement of best
practices related to the PHE. In all cases the security and privacy of this personal health data is
of the utmost importance.

Where software tools are employed to facilitate the input and or collection of athlete data the
following principles should be considered:

Data security and privacy

• Data processing should be in keeping with good faith efforts

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 • Data processing should be proportional (only collect the data that is needed)

• Data should be processed only for the purposes indicated and agreed to by the athlete and
or his/her legal representative

• The Data should be precise

• The Data should be protected against any form of unauthorized processing and provide
full and complete audit trail of all transactions related to the Data

• The Data should be legitimate

• The Data should be transparent to the owner (the athlete maintains access)

• Furthermore any organization implementing PHE should adopt best practices with
respect to human behavior and the safeguarding of all personal medical data.

8. PHE Form

A final objective was to provide a practical PHE Form that could be used by various groups and
form a starting point for further evaluation. Testing and standardization in medicine is not
possible if we do not begin somewhere. The first step in creating such a form was to collect
existing forms, including those in widespread use. These included the FIFA Pre Competition
Medical Assessment (PCMA), the Pre-Participation Physical Evaluation form (Matheson 2005),
the electronic Pre-Participation Evaluation (Meeuwisse 2003), the National Hockey League Pre-
Participation Medical Evaluation form, plus specialized forms including the American Heart
Association recommendations (Maron, 2007), the Lausanne Recommendations (Bille 2006),
plus the items outlined in the text of this manuscript. The second step was to combine these into
a master set of questions / items that was inclusive. This was circulated to the authors for
review.

The third step will be to go through refinement in the future. This should be done on the basis
of scientific evidence, which will come through evaluation with prospective data collection in a
variety of sporting populations.

9. Scientific Advisors

The IOC now has high-level scientific advisors who are capable of monitoring new
developments in the field of PHE, and of advising the IOC in relation to the use and abuse of
PHE. These advisors will help ensure that athletes and coaches receive the benefits of these
developments in improving their ability to prevent injury, and to enhance therapy if needed.
The IOC will follow this field and hold a new conference in 2011.

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10. Future Directions
It is recommended that PHEs be set up and conducted as research projects. Presently, the
decision to implement a compulsory PHE must be taken by the International Federations. It
must be in compliance with ethical and legal requirements applicable to biomedical research
involving human beings. Project findings should be shared and used by the medical and
scientific community to further develop and improve best practices. In particular, such research
should be conducted “in accordance with the recognized principles of research ethics, in
particular the Helsinki Declaration adopted by the World Medical Association (Edinburgh,
2000), and the applicable laws” (Article 7.5 of the Olympic Movement Medical Code).

Governing sports bodies (National Olympic Committees and International Federations) are encouraged to
support research activities to provide sport discipline specific scientific and medical evidence as related to
the improvement and application of PHE.

This article has been co-published in the following journals: American Journal of Sports Medicine,
British Journal of Sports Medicine, Clinical Journal of Sport Medicine, Journal of Athletic Training
International Sports Medicine Journal (FIMS), Journal of Science and Medicine in Sports, Scandinavian
Journal of Medicine and Science in Sports, South African Journal of Sports Medicine.

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