A new CrossFitter just took that first step,
and walked in your door…
Chances are, you are having this client fill out some basic paperwork…
Do you have your clients fill out a medical questionnaire?
Your medical form doesn’t have to be a detailed medical history like the one you fill out at the doctor’s office but having some basic medical information will make your job easier and help you give this new CrossFitter the best experience at your facility.
How can a medical questionnaire help you provide your athlete with the best experience?
The questionnaire gives you a heads up on any important medical issues that may effect their experience, such as, if you have a diabetic athlete, does he have to check his blood levels before and after or if he is feeling light headed or dizzy in a workout? If he’s feeling dizzy, he may need to refuel and raise his sugar. Or maybe she has a knee injury and you need to scale things like box jumps.
The questionnaire also will allow you and all your coaches to have access to this information if the athlete goes to a class that another coach is teaching, that coach can have a reference to refer to and be able to provide a quality, safe experience for the athlete.
Ok, so what should you ask?
There are many, many things you could ask, and you can format your form to fit your needs, but here’s some suggestions to include:
Demographic Info:
1. Name, Address, Phone Number, Emergency Contact (preferably 2) – and phone number
2. Insurance Info (company, policy holder, policy #, group number if applicable) *Insurance info – just in case you ever have to send somebody via ambulance, saves you time and stress; not a necessity, but a good thought.
Medical Questions:
1. Have you ever been told by a physician that you are not cleared for exercise?
2. Do you have chest pain during physical activity?
3. Do you or have you ever felt dizzy or lost consciousness during physical activity? *These questions should be your big red flags for physician clearance before the athlete begins participation.
4. Do they have or ever had:
- Cardiac or heart issues/disease? (previous heart attack, artherosclerosis, heart disease, etc.)
- Diabetes, if so are you insulin dependent?
- High blood pressure?
- Liver disease?
- Lung disease?
- Asthma, if so do you use an inhaler? For exercise? Where do you keep your inhaler during exercise?
- Concussion: total number? most recent (date – month/year)?
- Any other medical condition?
- Allergies? Allergies to medications? *
Be aware, latex allergies are quite common and some of the commonly used equipment in CrossFit have latex in them – ie. jump stretch bands* - Medications you are currently taking?
- Are you a smoker?
- Orthopedic issues: Have you ever had or do you have any injuries with the following:
- Hips
- Knees
- Ankles/Feet
- Back/Spine
- Neck
- Shoulders
- Elbows/Forearms/Wrist/Hand
- Any other pertinent medical information you think we should know?
Have a space to expand on any yes answers. Don’t hesitate to ask for a physician’s note for the athlete to participate if you’re concerned about any underlying disease, illness or injury!
This is valuable, personal information!
Be aware that you are collecting personal information from your athletes. So protect the information – correctly! Keep it filed away, never out in the open, preferable in a locked cabinet. If a client leaves, moves or whatever shred the info or give the paperwork right back to them.
When in doubt, ask!
Ask around, ask other affiliates…ask me, members in the medical profession (FYI: most athletic trainers have a lot of experience with similar forms in their practice settings which may be a good place to start), or check out these threads that you might find helpful:
- Medical History Questionnaire – from CrossFit.com forums
- CrossFit_Spotsy_Registration_and_Medical_Info.pdf
- HighAltitude_CrossFit-Waiver.pdf
