Men's Physicals & Hormone Levels

As we recognize Men’s Health Month in June, annual physical exams are an essential topic of discussion. After all, these yearly visits are considered a preventative measure to get in front of issues before they develop into conditions or diseases. However, unlike a routine annual physical, a sports medicine physical evaluates your current health status and medical history to ensure you are healthy enough to participate in physical activity.

While most associate sports physicals with high school or college student-athletes, these exams are helpful to anyone who participates in athletics at any level. Your sports medicine physician will review any preexisting injuries and assess your current fitness level to determine that there is no risk associated with your chosen activities. Sports medicine physicals typically include an evaluation of a patient’s height, weight, vision, hearing, heart health and blood pressure. These visits also include an analysis of muscle and bone health, flexibility, and strength.

Additionally, sports medicine physicals are ideal for men to evaluate hormone levels and other metabolic indicators. This allows for greater insight into athletic performance and overall health. In fact, low testosterone can often be correlated to symptoms in male patients such as loss of muscle mass and bone density, weight gain and decreased energy levels, among others.

Testosterone levels typically peak during adolescence and begin to decline about 1% per year after age 30 or 40. As these levels decrease, it is essential to determine if it results from aging or a condition known as hypogonadism, which leaves the body unable to produce normal amounts of testosterone. 

While testosterone replacement is not the “fountain of youth,” it can be an option for some patients to increase strength and bone density, which helps prevent osteoporosis. There is also evidence that testosterone treatments can benefit heart health, with lower levels contributing to heart issues. Keeping testosterone levels appropriate may also contribute to preventing cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, further research is needed to evaluate the complex relationship between testosterone and CVD.

To schedule a preventative sports medicine physical or discuss issues related to hormone levels with Dr. Josh Hackel, complete our online appointment request or call 850-916-8783 to schedule a visit. As a board-certified and fellowship-trained sports medicine physician, Dr. Hackel specializes in providing general primary sports medicine care and treating musculoskeletal and orthopaedic injuries. His primary aim is to maximize healing and minimize recovery time, allowing for a rapid return to sport, work and daily activities.