Healthy Athletes at Special Olympics Arizona

Healthy Athletes

	Athlete Interest Form		ALPs Information Request		Medical/Parental Release Form

Special Olympics Arizona is dedicated to giving our athletes information and the means to achieve physical fitness and make healthy lifestyles choices. To accomplish this we offer four distinct “Healthy Athlete” Clinics each year at our Fall Championship and Summer Games Competitions. Throughout the competition weekends, athletes can obtain a variety of medical examinations and learn ways to improve their long-term health. Listed below are clinic descriptions.

SOAZ Healthy Athlete Clinics are open to all Special Olympics athletes regardless of whether they compete at the competition or not. Each clinic is provided at no cost to athletes and family members.

Clinic Description

Special Smiles - Dental screenings are provided to identify chronic dental problems and to provide athletes with hygiene education. This helps to ensure that they are doing an adequate job of brushing and flossing. Nutritional education is also provided so that athletes better understand how their diet affects their total health.

Fit Feet - Many Special Olympics athletes suffer from foot and ankle pain or deformities that impair their performance. Also, athletes are not always fitted with the best shoes and socks for their particular sport. At this clinic, athletes receive foot and ankle screening for deformities. Athletes are also checked for proper shoes and socks.

Opening Eyes - provides vision screening to Special Olympics athletes, educating athletes, parents and coaches about the importance of regular eye care. This clinic also provides eyeglasses to Special Olympics athletes.

Healthy Hearing - Reduced hearing can have a significant negative impact upon an athlete’s ability to respond to directions in training, as well as understand other oral information from coaches, trainers and judges. The safety of the athlete also can be impeded by a hearing loss, as can the athlete’s interpersonal relationships. Screening of hearing is the first step in identifying potential hearing loss and preventing its negative effects from occurring in sporting, professional and social events.