A screening or sporting medical check-up is advised for every sports person at the start of and during his sporting career. A good medical check-up is very important from a preventative perspective. It often helps prevent stress injuries.
A sporting life is healthy but it’s best to have a thorough check-up by a sports doctor first. They will know exactly what stresses your body can accommodate during sport. Young athletes and those just starting a sport would be advised to undergo screening and a check-up when they decide to start with intensive exercise.
A classic sporting medical check-up with stress test comprises:
- a resting ECG (lying down) and a lung function check
- a thorough questionnaire from the doctor and a physical check
- blood analysis (only on request)
- measurement of height and weight, and any skin-fold measurements
- stress test on the bicycle or treadmill with lactic acid, heart rate and oxygen absorption, and often ECG monitoring. On the treadmill, during the exercise, a film can also be made of the gait during running and walking.
You can have this type of medical check-up carried out in the S.P.O.R.T.S centre (Screening, Preventie, Onderzoek en onderwijs, Revalidatie, Training en Sportgeneeskunde – Screening, Prevention, Research & Education, Reintegration, Training and Sports medicine) at the UZA or in BLITS (Brussels Laboratorium voor Inspanning en TopSport – Brussels Lab for Exercise and Top Sport) at the VUB.
