Let me preface what you are about to read with this: I am not telling you that you shouldn't do these exams. I am urging you to understand the risks that doing these exams brings to you.

I understand that chiropractors all over the country do these sports physicals and that there are various reasons for performing them. Some chiropractors do it as a way to give back to their community or schools. Some do it as a service to their patients or so the parents don't have to go someplace else to get it done. Some do it because they just like it.

No matter the reason you might be doing them please understand the actual reason that pre-participation exams are required for kids before playing a sport.

The actual reason has to do with the cardiovascular system and the need to pick up problems with the hearts of these kids before tragedy strikes.

So the first question you have to ask yourself is whether or not you feel competent to do a complete examination of the cardiovascular system in an effort to determine that the child you are examining is at risk or not.

Only you can determine this. Only you know if you were sufficiently trained or not. Only you know if you have the necessary experience.

If you come to the conclusion that you believe you are qualified to do them then the next question is:

Why do you want to bring that risk into your life? Never mind the risk it might bring to the child.

When trying to understand the risk I'm talking about its important to know what it means if you were the health care provider that said their heart was in good shape and then that child dies on the field.

You are going to get blamed for their death.

Now consider the impact of that on your life and your business and ask yourself if that risk is worth it.

My suggestion is that as a chiropractor you check the child's spine to see if they are subluxated and make your chiropractic recommendations and let the child's pediatrician sign off on the rest.

Remember this is not just about risk to the child but about risk to you, your life, your family and your business.

As always I look forward to your feedback, questions and comments.

Matthew McCoy DC, MPH
drmccoy@chirofutures.org
CEO & Co-Founder
ChiroFutures Malpractice Program 
http://www.chirofutures.org