Sports Physicals

Every child or teen who wants to play in a sport or engage in other school activities like cheerleading must have a sports physical or a preparticipation physical examination. They also need a sports physical to clear them to return to their activities if they suffer an injury or become ill during the season.

The purpose of a sports physical is to be sure your child can safely participate in sports. Suddenly starting high-intensity workouts and engaging in competitive sports can quickly aggravate a pre-existing problem or lead to a preventable injury when an exam discovers potential problems.

Although a sports physical may find a problem that prevents your child from participating, in most cases, the examination results guide decisions. The exam reveals problems that our providers can treat before your child starts a sport, and shows if your child needs extra training to get in shape to safely participate.

Children and parents use a medical history form to provide information about:

• Chronic illnesses such as asthma, diabetes, or epilepsy
• Hospitalizations or surgeries
• Past injuries such as concussions, sprains, or fractures
• Problems with dizziness, chest pain, or breathing during exercise
• Medications and supplements
• Allergies
• Family history of serious illnesses

A complete medical history helps your doctor determine if your child has a condition that sports activities might aggravate.

The physical exam for sports participation has a different focus than a wellness exam. During a sports physical, a pediatrician  evaluates your child’s musculoskeletal health, assessing bones, muscles, and joints for flexibility, strength, and signs of overuse injuries or stress.

Their doctor carefully examines concerns that could reappear during sports activities, such as previous fractures, sprains, concussions, skin infections, a past history of pain or dizziness, and chronic health conditions. An existing condition doesn’t always prevent a child from playing sports, but it may mean that they need help to accommodate their activity.

If your child has asthma, for example, they may need a different inhaler or need to learn to use their inhaler shortly before they start their warmups to prevent an exercise-induced asthma attack. If your child needs any type of physical, call our office or schedule an appointment online.

Great Destinations Pediatrics recommends regular wellness checks for babies, children, and teens. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, children over 3 should get annual physical exams until they turn 21.

If you have a newborn, physical exams should be done more frequently. The pediatricians like to see newborns every few months. They also provide specialized care for preterm and premature babies.

Along with annual wellness checks, your child will need a physical if they’re just starting school, going to a new school, or entering a new grade. The pediatric team also offers sports physicals, pre-college physicals, and pre-military physicals for teens and young adults.

Children grow fast, and regular physicals ensure that they’re as healthy as possible as they get older. The Great Destinations Pediatrics team reviews your child’s medical history at the start of their appointment. They check their vital signs and do a series of measurements and tests, including:

Height

Weight

Heart rate

Temperature

Lung function

Blood pressure

Vision

Hearing

Great Destinations Pediatrics follows the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines for immunizations, giving vaccines at physical exams as needed.

The pediatrician evaluates your child’s growth and development, taking note of any potential problems or signs of childhood disease. Come to the appointment prepared to ask questions, and encourage your child to participate in their health care.

Physical exams track your child’s development as they grow up. Going to the pediatrician when your child is sick is important. But routine wellness checks are the best way to prevent illnesses, identify potential health problems, and build trust between your child and their doctor.

The providers at Great Destinations Pediatrics take a holistic approach to pediatric wellness. Along with tracking your child’s physical health, they monitor mental and emotional health. Your child’s physical is a great time to raise any concerns you have about their behavior, school performance, sleep habits, nutrition, and more.

Before joining a sports team or before the season starts, it’s important to make sure your child is in tip-top health. A sports physical checks general health and also evaluates any imbalances that could increase your child’s risk of injury.

Sports physicals also emphasize prevention. Your provider helps your child understand how important nutrition, recovery, and sleep are to quality athletic performance.

Keeping your child up to date on their wellness checks helps them enjoy their best health. Call Great Destinations Pediatrics today or book your child’s appointment online.