Sports Physicals
Getting involved in sports when your child is in school can be an exciting time. Practice sessions, away games and pretty cheerleaders can make your child look forward to every single event and give them the exercise they need to ward off juvenile obesity. The thing is, before your child can suit up, they need to have a sports physicals done, which is required by most athletic organizations and school districts across the country today.
Are your children going out for team sports and you need to have their physicals done? Call Pediatric Partners today for an immediate appointment so we can get them suited up right away.
What is the Difference Between a Sports Physical and an Annual Checkup?
An annual checkup should be done every year, whether your child is participating in sports or not. Annual checkups check your child’s development against what is defined as normal for their age, including height, weight and physical form. A complete annual physical may include checks for allergic reactions if your child is showing symptoms, or for asthma and a host of other childhood diseases.
Sports physicals, on the other hand, consists of taking and evaluating medical history, and tests that determine whether or not the child is capable of handling the sport they will be playing. Allergies and conditions like asthma will only be considered if they come up in the history, and if it may have a direct effect on your child’s performance during play.
What happens during a Sport-Related Examination?
To start the examiner, whether it is your regular doctor or one provided by the school or sports organization, will ask questions regarding your family’s medical history. This will include illnesses, hospitalizations, and any injuries that may prevent your child from being able to fully participate in the sport of their choice.
This will be followed up with a limited physical exam, determined by the sport they will be playing. At its heart, the physical examination will include measuring your child’s height and weight, pulse rate and blood pressure, basic tests of the heart and lungs, reflexes, coordination, strength, test vision and hearing, joint mobility, flexibility, spinal alignment and posture. Female athletes may be asked about their menses, its duration and regularity.
Making the decision
After the tests are done, the health care provider has the choice to fill out the required paperwork necessary for allowing your child to participate. The final decision as to whether it would be safe for your child to play is dependent upon the answers to the following conditions:
• The type of sport and its stress factor
• What position the child will be playing
• The level of competition
• The size of the athlete compared to the norm
It is rare for any child to be barred from playing following any sports physicals. Most childhood health issues will not prevent them from participating, even allergies, as long as preventative measures are taken.
Sports Physicals
Getting involved in sports when your child is in school can be an exciting time. Practice sessions, away games and pretty cheerleaders can make your child look forward to every single event and give them the exercise they need to ward off juvenile obesity. The thing is, before your child can suit up, they need to have a sports physicals done, which is required by most athletic organizations and school districts across the country today.
Are your children going out for team sports and you need to have their physicals done? Call Pediatric Partners today for an immediate appointment so we can get them suited up right away.
What is the Difference Between a Sports Physical and an Annual Checkup?
An annual checkup should be done every year, whether your child is participating in sports or not. Annual checkups check your child’s development against what is defined as normal for their age, including height, weight and physical form. A complete annual physical may include checks for allergic reactions if your child is showing symptoms, or for asthma and a host of other childhood diseases.
Sports physicals, on the other hand, consists of taking and evaluating medical history, and tests that determine whether or not the child is capable of handling the sport they will be playing. Allergies and conditions like asthma will only be considered if they come up in the history, and if it may have a direct effect on your child’s performance during play.
What happens during a Sport-Related Examination?
To start the examiner, whether it is your regular doctor or one provided by the school or sports organization, will ask questions regarding your family’s medical history. This will include illnesses, hospitalizations, and any injuries that may prevent your child from being able to fully participate in the sport of their choice.
This will be followed up with a limited physical exam, determined by the sport they will be playing. At its heart, the physical examination will include measuring your child’s height and weight, pulse rate and blood pressure, basic tests of the heart and lungs, reflexes, coordination, strength, test vision and hearing, joint mobility, flexibility, spinal alignment and posture. Female athletes may be asked about their menses, its duration and regularity.
Making the decision
After the tests are done, the health care provider has the choice to fill out the required paperwork necessary for allowing your child to participate. The final decision as to whether it would be safe for your child to play is dependent upon the answers to the following conditions:
• The type of sport and its stress factor
• What position the child will be playing
• The level of competition
• The size of the athlete compared to the norm
It is rare for any child to be barred from playing following any sports physicals. Most childhood health issues will not prevent them from participating, even allergies, as long as preventative measures are taken.