History and physical examination

Abstract

Personal and family history are invaluable components in pre-participation screening of athletes. Both the American Heart Association and the European Society of Cardiology recommend administering a questionnaire about family and personal history and performing a physical examination focused on the common signs of heart disease in the young. However, it should be kept in mind that the screening history questions that are currently recommended are based on expert opinion and enquire about common symptoms that are not specific to cardiac diseases. Moreover, many athletes show innocent cardiac murmurs which may trigger further unnecessary cardiovascular examination. Hence, the education and experience of screening physicians are critical for improving the effectiveness of history-taking and physical examination in pre-participation evaluation.