Sports Physical: Why Your Child Needs One

A sports physical is a great way of determining if your child has any health problems that could hinder their sports participation. All schools require that your child has a sports physical done before the sports’ season to prevent your child from getting injured. It is important that your child has a sports physical done because a doctor or specialist can help them recover from or handle any problems that could hinder their sports performance. A doctor will have certain tips, as well as medications, that could help a child (such as an inhaler for asthma). 

How a Sports Physical Works 

Initially, you will receive a sports physical form to fill out for your child. A sports physical exam, also referred to as a Preparticipation Physical Examination (PPE), helps determine whether your child is safe to participate in a certain sport. This form will have a variety of questions for you to fill out. You will need to answer if your child has ever had trouble breathing, felt dizzy, passed out, or felt chest pain during exercise. You will also need to provide information such as past injuries, family history of illness, previous hospitalizations, previous surgery, past and present illnesses (like asthma or diabetes), and what medications (over-the-counter medications, herbal supplements, or prescription medication) they have taken. The sports physical form is the most important part of the sports physical, as it greatly helps a doctor when they conduct a physical exam. 

The physical exam is done by the doctor. The doctor will check the throat, nose, ears, lungs, abdomen, and heart. They will also check your child’s weight, height, flexibility, strength, joints, posture, vision, blood pressure, and pulse. The questions your doctor asks will depend on the age and gender of your child, as some injuries or disorders relate directly to the gender of your child, such as the female athlete triad. Finally, your doctor will ask about the use of drugs, alcohol, weight-loss supplements, dietary supplements, and steroids, as these can all affect your child’s health. 

Specialist Referral 

If something is amiss, your doctor may recommend that you take your child to see a specialist. This does not mean that your child will have no chance of taking part in sports, just that they require further care. A specialist could greatly aid your child’s athletic performance. They may notice traits of your child’s problem that a doctor would miss. Your child could be running in a way that influences their injury, or overtraining. It is highly unlikely that seeing a specialist will prevent your child from playing sports. The main goal of a sports physical form is to ensure that your child is safe when they play sports. A specialist is there to help your child recover to the point that they can play sports.

Sports Physical Near Me 

BASS Primary Care offers sports physical services year-round and is located in the Shadelands area of Walnut Creek, California. We are also capable of performing CT scans, MRIs, x-rays, and more with results back in less than 24 hours. If your child is injured while playing sports, we can quickly get them in for treatment. At most hospitals, you will be looking at waiting for hours for the treatment of a sports injury. However, at BASS Primary Care, we can see your child in under an hour. Our facility is low-risk and follows CDC’s hygiene recommendations, making it safe for you and your child to enter and exit. To book an appointment, visit our website or call us at (925) 962-9120.