Sports Physical Specialist

What are sports physicals?

Like annual physicals or well-child visits, sports physicals are appointments with your child’s pediatrician to assess your child’s overall health and functioning. They happen in preparation for participation in sports or physical activities. 

During the simple tests involved in a sports physical, your child’s pediatrician makes sure your child is physically and mentally capable of participating in their sport or activity of choice. 

Sometimes, children need extra considerations or accommodations to engage in certain activities safely, and a sports physical can highlight their needs.

At Neighborhood Pediatrics, your child’s pediatrician performs a sports physical thoroughly and reports the results with accuracy. Then, you bring the results to your child’s coach or sports organization to show that your child is ready to participate. 

What happens during a sports physical?

When your child comes in for a sports physical at Neighborhood Pediatrics, you can expect the appointment to involve a few standard steps. Every sports physical your child gets involves:

Medical history

Your child’s pediatrician reviews your child’s medical history and asks relevant questions about their health. You should report your child’s serious illnesses or those of family members, any previous operations or hospitalizations, medications, and reactions to exercise that you know of. 

Physical exam

A physical exam involves recording your child’s height and weight and testing their vitals, vision, and lungs. Your child’s pediatrician also evaluates their joints, posture, flexibility, and strength. 

What are the results of a sports physical?

If your child’s pediatrician detects any medical issues that might interfere with their ability to participate in sports safely, there may be ways to accommodate them so your child can still play. 

Your child’s pediatrician may recommend or prescribe an inhaler for exercise-induced asthma or specific stretches or strengthening tasks for your child to help prevent injuries. 

Can a sports physical replace a regular physical?

Although they involve many of the same tests, sports and regular annual physicals aren’t quite the same. Sports physicals only focus on your child’s health concerning their capability to play sports, while routine physicals focus on overall health and wellness. 

You shouldn’t forgo a regular physical exam even if your child recently got a sports physical.

Most schools and organizations require sports physicals for participating child athletes, but any active child can benefit from getting one. Schedule your child’s sports physical by phone or online at Neighborhood Pediatrics today.