Hospital for Special Surgery Teams Up with PSAL to Offer Free Health Screening for High School Football Players on Saturday, August 3

New York City—July 31, 2013

DATE:     Saturday, August 3, 2013 
               8 a.m. to 2 a.m.

LOCATION:      Hospital for Special Surgery
                         Sports Rehabilitation and Performance Center                         
                         525 East 71st Street, first floor (between York and FDR Drive)
                         New York City

ABOUT THE EVENT:  Medical clearance is mandatory for all NYC high school students. This special pre-season physical exam and screening will be provided, regardless of ability to pay, by the highly-regarded Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) in Manhattan, official hospital for the NY Football Giants and other professional sports teams.

The hospital has teamed up with PSAL, the Public Schools Athletic League, an organization that promotes student athletics in the public schools of New York City. The goal of the screening is to ensure the young athletes are fit to play and have no underlying medical problems before football season starts.

About 20 orthopedic surgeons, primary care physicians, physical therapists, certified athletic trainers and other health professionals will take the students’ medical history; check their heart, lungs and vision; test strength and flexibility; perform balance/concussion management testing; assess their posture; even measure how far they can jump.

Doctors will also check the young athletes for previous injuries, giving them advice on how to stay safe on the field and avoid future problems. Students may be prescribed exercises or advised on icing, taping and bracing to prevent further injury.

Dr. James J. Kinderknecht, medical director of the PSAL Clinic at HSS, and John Cavanaugh, PT, ATC, SCS, clinical supervisor of the Sports Rehabilitation and Performance Center at HSS and organizer of the PSAL medical screening, will oversee the event.

For some students, the free screening means the difference between playing the sport or sitting on the sidelines. “Some students would not go out for athletics because they don’t have health insurance and could not afford the required pre-season physical,” said Jerry Epstein, commissioner of PSAL Football. “The medical screening at Special Surgery is the best thing I’ve been associated with. I don’t think the students would get an exam this thorough anywhere else. And it gives the kids of New York City the opportunity to have the same doctors who provide care for the New York Giants and the Mets.”