[The importance and composition of pre-season examination in sportsmen].

Every competitive athlete in Israel is required by law to undergo a periodical pre-participation physical examination (PPE), before the competitive season. The PPE is intended to discover medical problems which might affect the health of the athletes, and rarely, may even pose a risk to their lives. It includes a sports-oriented medical questionnaire, a thorough physical examination, and a resting electrocardiogram (ECG). From a certain age onwards, it also includes a graded exercise test (GXT). Numerous studies and standpoints of several professional committees and sports medicine organizations in Europe have emphasized the importance of the first 3 parts of the PPE, namely the questionnaire, physical examination, and resting ECG. Currently, the role of the GXT in the PPE remains debatable. In this review, we will discuss the latest available scientific information in favor of including a resting ECG and, sometimes, a GXT in the PPE of competitive athletes, as mandated by the Israeli Sports Law.