[The sports preparticipation medical screening]

Globally, populations are more and more physically active in western countries, also participating in competitions, even if not professionally. The main goals of the sports preparticipation screening is to detect conditions that may predispose to injuries, may cause sudden death, or trigger worsening in preexisting conditions. In Switzerland, primary care physicians are regularly confronted to it. The requests mainly come from people practicing sports in bordering countries, where the examination is mandatory, or from people concerned with their health. This article reviews the essential points of this examination, mainly consisting in history taking and physical examination. On a cardiovascular point of view, it details the main differences between the European and the American recommendations regarding athletes between 12 to 35 years old and those older.