Free Special Olympics physicals to be offered September 9

KEARNEY - Free sports physical exams for athletes who plan to compete in the Special Olympics will be offered from 8 a.m. to noonSept. 9 by students and faculty from the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Nursing Kearney Division and the UNMC College of Allied Health Professions in Kearney.

The free event, called West Central MedFest, is open to athletes from the Kearney, Grand Island and Hastings areas. The physicals allow athletes to be eligible to compete in the 19 sports that Special Olympics Nebraska offers year-round.

The physicals will take place in the exam rooms in the Health Science Education Complex on the University of Nebraska at Kearney campus at 2402 University Drive.

Competitions are run throughout the state for regional and state events this fall. In the Kearney area, Central City will be the host for the state equestrian competition on Sept. 10, and Kearney will have a bowling competition at Big Apple Fun Center on Oct. 14.

Twenty-seven students from the UNMC physician assistant, physical therapy and accelerated bachelor's degree in nursing program from Kearney will participate in head-to-toe assessments. These will include vision and hearing screening, vital signs, physical examination and education on topics such as healthy eating and stretching before activities.

Students will be joined by physician assistant faculty members.

Pre-registration is encouraged. Go to www.sone.org/programs/kearney-medfest.html. For more information about Medfest, contact Alisa Hoffman, ahoffman@sone.org or 402-331-5545, ext. 22.