TRAINING ROOM EVALUATION OF CHEST PAIN IN THE ADOLESCENT ATHLETE

A physician or athletic trainer will often be faced with an athlete co mplaining of chest pain during or after an event. Chest pain in childr en and adolescents is usually of a noncardiac origin; only 5% of cases are due to cardiac problems. With a properly documented history and p hysical evaluation, one can usually identify the etiology of the chest discomfort or at least rule out any serious difficulties. The various diagnostic possibilities include cardiac, musculoskeletal, pulmonary, gastrointestinal, and psychiatric causes of pain. We discuss several specific conditions, as well as the signs, symptoms, and basic managem ent.