Freeman to offer free sports physicals for student-athletes
JOPLIN, Mo. – Keeping young athletes healthy while playing a sport they love is the primary focus behind free pre-participation physicals scheduled throughout the region by Freeman Orthopedics & Sports Medicine.
The examinations are designed to screen for injuries, illnesses or other factors that could potentially increase risk for athlete’s injury and are vital to a student’s participation in sports or physical activities as well as their individual health and safety.
“Freeman has been providing this service since 1993, or a little over 30 years, which turns out to be approximately 31,000 free physicals for our area athletes,” said Mylene Ray, Freeman Sports Medicine Outreach Coordinator.
Free physicals will take place over four evenings for more than 1,000 incoming student-athletes grades seven through 12 at area schools who partner with the Freeman Orthopedics & Sports Medicine Program.
Wednesday, May 29 at Carl Junction High School Gymnasium
- 5:30 pm – Carl Junction students
Monday, June 3 at Joplin High School Gymnasium
- 5:30 pm – Joplin students
- 6:00 pm – Riverton, Kansas students
- 6:30 pm – Freeman employee children
- 6:30 pm – Baxter Springs, Kansas students
Monday, June 10 at Webb City Middle School Gymnasium
- 5:30 pm – Webb City students
- 6:45 pm – College Heights Christian School students
- 6:45 pm – Thomas Jefferson Independent Day School students
Tuesday, June 11 at Neosho High School Gymnasium
- 5:30 pm – Neosho students
- 6:00 pm – McDonald County students
- 6:30 pm – Diamond students
- 6:30 pm – East Newton students
“We really appreciate our Freeman volunteers who work alongside our athletic trainers,” Ray said. “Volunteers come from all aspects of the hospital – orthopaedic providers, clinicians, emergency and internal medicine, nurses, family practice, ear, nose and throat specialists and Screen Team – just to name a few. Volunteers help make these nights possible and they keep things running smoothly.”
Each examination includes a student’s family medical history, height, weight, pulse, blood pressure, hearing and vision. Additionally, a student’s nose, throat, heart, lungs, and abdomen will also be examined, along with their ankles, knees, hips and shoulders.
Volunteer check-in will begin at 5:00 pm each night. For more information concerning the pre-participation physicals, call 417.347.8778.