A sports physical is an excellent way to ensure your child is ready to participate in sports. We will explain what a sports physical is and what it involves. We will also answer the question, “What will happen if there is a problem with my results?”
At SportsSafe: Pediatric Concussion Clinic in Austin, Texas, we provide sports physicals to many young athletes. Contact us today if you would like more information regarding how we can help your children.
A Sports Physical is a type of exam that shows whether it’s safe for your child to participate in sports. It is also known as a preparticipation physical evaluation (PPE).
In most states, a student is required by law to have this physical exam before they play school sports. Your child’s school may have the same requirement too. Even in states where it is not required, doctors generally would recommend your child have this examination to ensure your child’s safety before they play sports.
A sports physical involves two parts: It considers your child’s medical history and then a physical examination is done.
Your child’s medical history will be considered using a health history intake form. The form has questions parents can use to get their child’s health and medical history. The parents will also use this to record their medical history.
The questions will be about their previous health conditions, including previous injuries they have had.
You should encourage your child to answer the questions honestly. This will help your doctor evaluate your child’s current physical condition.
The physical exam will usually include the following:
You will also have an opportunity to ask questions about your health, diet, and playing sports.
A sports physical serves as a proactive measure to identify and address potential health issues that might affect sports performance or increase the risk of injuries. The process allows providers to tailor recommendations, provide training tips, or suggest exercises to prevent injuries.
You should schedule your sports physical at least 6 weeks before your sports season starts. This will allow time for your healthcare provider to provide further tests or treatment. Sports physicals usually need to be renewed once every year.
You will probably need to complete a sports physical form before each season starts. You can get a sports physical from a healthcare provider, such as at the SportsSafe: Pediatric Concussion Clinic in Austin, TX.
Most athletes are cleared by their provider and the form is signed. Some, however, will need to do some further tests or receive treatment before they can participate in sports.
The purpose of a sports physical is to ensure safety while playing sports—not to prevent participation in sports. It is very rare for a provider to prevent an athlete from participating in sports.
We recommend keeping up with your child/teen’s annual wellness check with their primary care provider. When an annual wellness check is up-to-date, your provider can often fill out the needed sports physical form based on the wellness check results without needing your child to come in for an additional sports physical appointment.
There are certain instances where a sports physical will be needed in addition to a well-check (some schools require a physical examination after 4/15 for sports the following year) and these are good reasons to schedule a sports physical with SportsSafe or our After Hours Kids clinic.
At the SportsSafe: Pediatric Concussion Clinic, we are providing many young athletes sports physicals in Austin, TX. Get your kid ready for the new sports season by booking their appointment. Contact our office today!
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