Categories: Urgent Care

What is a Sports Physical?

Wondering if your child or teen needs a sports physical? Also called a preparticipation examination, most schools require parents to get a physical for their child when they want to participate in sports. Even if a school does not require a child or teen to get a physical, which ensures that they are strong and healthy enough to participate, it is still recommended that parents take their child or teen to get a physical to be on the safe side. Current recommendations suggest that parents get their child or teen a sports physical before each school year begins.

The American Academy of Pediatrics and the American College of Sports Medicine both recommend that children and teenagers get a complete sports physical performed at each new level of participation.

What is a sports physical?

A sports physical refers to a physical examination performed by a medical professional in order to approve a child or teenager to participate in a certain physical activity. The entire physical only takes about 15 minutes to perform and includes basic physical procedures, like taking their blood pressure, checking their vision and measuring their height and weight. It also includes a thorough check of their eyes, ears, nose, throat, lungs, heart, abdomen, joints, bones and muscles. The medical professional will look into their medical history and accordingly address any issues that may be present.

What do sports physicals look for in particular?

During the physical, a medical professional will specifically look for any issues that may increase the child or teen's risk of injury, assess their current fitness level, address any pre-existing injuries and assess their level of physical maturity in order to offer a report on their general health.

What if a problem is found?

If a medical problem is found during the physical, then the medical professional will offer potential solutions in order to form a treatment plan. Even if a problem is found, it is still possible for the child or teen to participate in the sport of their choice.

Where does someone go to get a sports physical?

While a sports physical can be obtained in a few different places, it is still necessary for it to be performed by a medical professional. A community health center is one option and normally does not require an appointment. A primary care physician can also perform sports physicals but does require an appointment. Many schools will provide sports physicals for their students for convenience reasons and are often conducted during normal school hours.

Is your child or teen in need of a sports physical?

Now that you understand what a sports physical entails, are you ready to make an appointment for your child or teen so you can both know the current condition of their overall general health? Having your child or teenager undergo a physical is not only necessary when it comes to making sure your child or teen is in good health, but it also allows the ability to check their neurological functions, as this directly relates to their good reflexes, coordination and overall strength.

Let's get started …

Request an appointment here: http://millenniummedicalcare.com or call Millennium Medical Care at (703) 372-4429 for an appointment in our Fairfax office.

Check out what others are saying about our services on Yelp: Read our Yelp reviews.

Recent Posts

Personalized Treatment Plans For Pain Management

A multitude of conditions can warrant the need for professional pain management. While pain management can come in the form of medication or treatment, urgent care typically performs the latter. Learning the difference between short and long-term options can help you learn when to consult a doctor.Whether a patient has a chronic condition that causes…

The Importance Of Regular Diabetes Check

Diabetes is a prevalent disease that negatively impacts the body's glucose levels and, in turn, organs. That is why routine diabetes check are strongly recommended by medical professionals across multiple specialties. They can not only detect diabetes but also if you are on the fast track to developing the condition.Diabetes impacts the body in more…

The Role Of Primary Care In Preventative Health

Having a connection with a primary care provider is paramount for your health. These medical professionals ensure you remain healthy year-round by providing services to prevent many illnesses and conditions. These services do not always mean medications. In fact, the goal of any medical care provider is to keep your body healthy enough to sustain…

Urgent Care Near Me: Fast And Reliable Healthcare Solutions

Finding help with medical needs can be as simple as typing “urgent care near me” into the search bar. Urgent care facilities help patients with a range of healthcare solutions, from primary care services to urgent medical needs. They occupy a crucial niche between primary care and hospital emergency rooms.An urgent care is a healthcare…

Dr. Reena Bommasani

Share
Published by
Dr. Reena Bommasani

Recent Posts

Personalized Treatment Plans for Pain Management

A multitude of conditions can warrant the need for professional pain management. While pain management…

1 week ago

The Importance of Regular Diabetes Check

Diabetes is a prevalent disease that negatively impacts the body's glucose levels and, in turn,…

1 month ago

The Role of Primary Care in Preventative Health

Primary care providers play an integral role in your overall well-being. Do not delay partnering…

2 months ago

Urgent Care Near Me: Fast and Reliable Healthcare Solutions

Urgent care facilities help patients with a range of healthcare solutions, from primary care services…

3 months ago

Over-the-Counter vs Clinical Pregnancy Testing

Awaiting the results of a pregnancy test can be nerve-wracking, regardless of whether or not…

4 months ago

The Importance of Yearly Women’s Health Exams

While many do not look forward to their yearly women's health exam, this appointment is…

5 months ago