Sports can provide many benefits for children, such as improving physical fitness, building teamwork and leadership skills, and boosting self-confidence. However, getting your kid a sports health check before encouraging their passion is important. This should be done prior to the sports season.
As you read on, you’ll find what a sport's physical is all about and the benefits of letting your kid get it done.
About Sports Physicals
A sports physical exam, also called PPE (Pre-participation Physical Evaluation), is recommended to ensure that a kid is safe to play a certain sport. It helps to discover and treat health problems that might serve as a hindrance to sport participation. Whether you have an active kid that plays organized sports or not, it is essential to let them get sports physicals regularly.
Sports physicals differ from regular checkups. While a sports health check ensures that your child is in perfect condition enough to play a sport, regular checkups ensure that their general well-being is great.
As a parent, you must ensure that your child is mentally and emotionally prepared to take the sports exam. This ensures that everything goes as smoothly as possible.
There are two necessary fractions to explore when getting sports physicals. They are:
Medical History vs Physical Exam
The medical history part comes in a form type that you must fill carefully and correctly, while the physical part is taken at present to determine the child’s fitness.
| Medical History | Physical Exam |
| Serious illnesses in the family. | Take a record of the child's height and weight. |
| Medical problems and illnesses, like asthma, allergies, or diabetes. | Record the child's blood pressure and pulse. |
| Previous hospitalizations or surgeries. | Test vision. |
| Past injuries such as concussions, sprains, or broken bones. | Check the heart, lungs, abdomen, ears, nose, and throat. |
| Medications including over-the-counter medicines, dietary supplements, and prescription medicines. | Evaluate the child's posture, joints, strength, and flexibility. |
| Cases of the child passed out, felt dizzy, had chest pain, or had trouble breathing during exercise. | |
| Gender based; Boys — testicle pain and girls — about their periods. | |
| Ask questions about smoking and vaping, alcohol, drugs, diet pills, or performance-enhancing supplements, including steroids. |
How Often Does a Child Need Sports Health Check?
Physical checks are usually good for about a year and should be scheduled at least six weeks before the beginning of a sports season. For this health examination, you can either take your child to the school doctor or your family doctor. If the doctor finds any issues during the examination, the provider may require more testing before signing off on an exam.
Since the purpose of this examination is to officially document the fact that your child is in good condition to begin the new sports season, it is unlikely for your child to be disqualified from playing sports.
Final Thought
You can visit our nearby urgent care center today if you need to get your child a sports physical. Our skilled doctors are trained to do this and will provide training tips and exercises to help stay fit and avoid injuries.
