Getting physical

VILLE PLATTE -- One of the surest signs that the upcoming athletic year is fast approaching is the sight of area athletes receiving their free annual physicals courtesy of the local medical professionals and Health Works Rehab.
The tradition of providing student/athletes with free physical exams dates back to 2003 and continued this past Wednesday.
Each year, any student that wishes to participate in a high school sport must receive a physical that clears them to play. That physical must then be held on file at the school for review by an LHSAA auditor that comes around once a year.
Once again, several medical professionals, including doctors, nurses, nurse practitioners, ophthalmologists, dentists, physical therapists and physician’s assistants were on hand at Health Works Rehab to provide those free physicals to student/athletes from Pine Prairie, Sacred Heart and Ville Platte High.
Two of the guiding forces behind this free service, David Vidrine and Andy Poché, reiterated how important having this night is to the surrounding area.
“This is a way for those athletes to come and get a thorough examination so that they do not have to worry about anything stopping them from getting themselves ready to play this season,” stated Vidrine. “We are able to check out their eyes, teeth, jaws, flexibility, spinal columns, blood pressure and anything else necessary to get them complied with LHSAA rules. And if something does come up not quite right, we can refer them to their normal family physician for further testing.”
“Having this event will allow the physicians to not get bogged down in their offices with requests for physicals,” said Poché. “It also allows us to make contact with these athletes and get to know them on a more personal level. I am amazed at the turnout we have with our medical professionals. They truly care about the community and it shows by how they give up their time to do this for the schools.”
Tapping into that same sentiment were the coaches from the three schools served on Wednesday night.
“This is a tremendous thing for us and the area,” commented Sacred Heart head football coach Josh Harper. “Just knowing that this is one thing that is being seen about is a big lift off of the coaches shoulders.”
“We are always going to have some that cannot make it here tonight because of other circumstances,” stated Ville Platte High head coach Jorie Randle. “But, getting the majority of our players ready to go before we start cranking it up full speed is a tremendous feeling.”
Pine Prairie head coach Yves Prince also noted that it is not only football players that are served by this event.
“You see cross country, track, and basketball players, both boys and girls here too,” said Prince. “Just seeing those athletes taking care of their business early on is a good sign of things to come this year.”