Council sports check instead of cardiac death before the start of training

Sports medical examination helps to avoid health risks during sports

20/11/2014

Exercise is usually beneficial to health, but with certain pre-existing conditions, such as cardiovascular or joint discomfort, physical stress can be associated with a health risk. Therefore, in case of doubt, a sports medical health check should be carried out before starting the training.

How this sports check looks like, who should carry it out and how the reimbursement is regulated, explain experts of the German Society for Sports Medicine and Prevention (DGSP), the Medical Service of the health insurance funds and the consumer center of North Rhine-Westphalia. It becomes clear that "especially untrained people and persons who dare to reenter after a long abstinence from sports should be careful". Because it threatens "serious health problems to sudden cardiac death."

Avoid health risks during sports
With the sport check, as recommended for example as a preventive check-up by the German Society of Sports Medicine and Prevention (DGSP), individual health risks of sports activities are to be determined. For example, these may be congenital health problems in young people, such as thickened heart muscle or hitherto undetected cardiac arrhythmias „Mirror online“ citing DGSP Honorary President Herbert Löllgen. Older people are often endangered by pathological changes in the cardiovascular system as a result of smoking and / or lack of exercise. Therefore, the experts of the DGSP recommend the sport check to everyone, „starting with a bit more intense sport, especially young people between the ages of 12 and 25 and the elderly, who want to get back in the age of 40 or 50“, cited „Mirror online“ the DGSP honorary president.

In-depth physical examination
As part of the sports check, according to the news portal, patients first fill out a questionnaire with general health questions. This is followed by a discussion with the doctor, in which previous illnesses and the previous patient's history are discussed. Also sudden deaths in the family environment and their causes play a role here. By means of the physical examination, the general state of health of the patient should then be recorded as objectively as possible. Measurements of blood pressure, an electrocardiogram at rest and other cardiological and orthopedic examinations are provided here. Further examinations, such as a so-called exercise electrocardiogram, may be added as needed. A stress ECG is recommended by the DGSP, for example, for symptoms of heart disease or from the age of 65 years. For special sports, additional chargeable examinations are required, such as a pulmonary function test during diving.

Cost assumption not secured
Even if the physicians recommend a sports check, amateur athletes should take a short time to think, because a reimbursement by the statutory health insurance is often only partially or not at all secured. As a rule, these are so-called individual health services (IGeL), which are not part of the fixed catalog of benefits of the statutory health insurance funds and thus to be financed by the patients themselves „Mirror online“. How meaningful the health check is, according to the portal IGeL-Monitor of the medical service of the central association federation of the health insurance also remain unclear, so the news magazine on. The recommendation of the DGSP can hardly be based on reliable studies. In addition, the greatest health risks in sports, such as injuries caused by falls with the investigations, are in any case unavoidable.

No basic recommendation for the sport check
Although the portal IGeL-Monitor does not see any fundamental requirement for the sport checks, this position is not to be understood as a general rejection, according to portal spokesman Christian Weymayr. For a good reason in many sports clubs such a sports check is a prerequisite for recording, reports the expert „Mirror online“. A general recommendation for the sport checks, however, was not pronounced, „because those are services that are not about the benefit or harm of the patient“, so Weymayr. In addition, it is possible that someone renounce sports because of a conspicuous findings at the sports check, although this would have made him fun and health benefits in the end. The potential hobby athlete advises the professional to ask himself before the sport, how he feels and how much he wants to burden me.

Inform about reimbursement
Despite any costs associated with this, the DGSP Honorary President recommends that amateur athletes pass the health check before engaging in sports activities. „The price is much lower than a car inspection, it should be worth your while“, becomes Löllgen of „Mirror online“ cited. For example, an ECG costs about 70 euros nationwide. If sufferers suffer from conspicuous complaints or if the test results show conspicuous findings, the costs are also covered by the health insurance. In general, it is advisable to inform yourself before the sports check at the own health insurance company about the possibilities of reimbursement, explains Christiane Lange of the consumer center North Rhine-Westphalia opposite „Mirror online“.

Avoid overlaps with the entitlement to benefits
Many health insurances are voluntarily willing to pay the costs for individual health check-ups, the consumer advocate continued. In addition, some doctors would offer services as IGeL, which are also offered by the health insurance companies. As an example „Mirror online“ Overlaps between the sports check and the health check, to which all insured persons from the age of 35 years have a claim every two years. Anyone who has already paid for a sports check can stay in doubt on the costs, although there is actually a claim for a check-up 35. (Fp)