Children love sports, and that’s a good thing. But way too often, we hear about a student becoming ill, or worse, dying while participating in a sporting event. Many times, it’s later revealed that the student had a medical condition that no one knew about – not even the student himself. Had that information been known in advance, more than likely, the student would not have been playing that particular sport to begin with, and the outcome would have been different. This is one of the reasons why it’s important to get a sports physical before your child participates in a sporting event. In this instance, an ounce of prevention goes a long way.

What Does a Sports Physical Entail?

There are two components to a sports physical, also called a pre-participation exam: examining your medical history, and a comprehensive physical exam. It’s important to check if your child is predisposed to any specific health conditions that could possibly impact their health while playing sports. In addition to getting your child’s basics (height, weight, etc.), our sports physicals also include the following exams:

• Physical Health Examination
• Range of Motion Testing
• Blood Pressure Screening
• Pulse Check/Heart/Abdomen
• Vision Screening
• Joint, Neck, Back Exams

The particular sports or type of sport your child wants to play may require more in-depth testing, which we can discuss when you come in for the examination at our clinic.

What Can a Sports Physical Reveal?

A sports physical can reveal a number of health issues or concerns that can either prevent someone from playing a particular sport or at the very least, limit their participation. Sports physicals have revealed conditions including hidden heart disorders or heart murmurs, or other health concerns. Health conditions such as allergies, high blood pressure, and asthma could limit your child’s participation.

Do Schools Require Sports Physicals?

A school physical is part of the enrollment requirements in general at most schools. And while many schools require students to undergo a sports physical, before they’re allowed to play a particular sport, some schools have no such requirement, which means it’s up to the parent to make sure it gets done. Safety comes first.

What’s the Best Time to Get a Sports Physical?

The best time to get a sports physical is before participating in a sports activity. You need to make sure that there are no underlying health issues that will impact your child’s health. It’s generally recommended to get a sports physical about six weeks before starting sports. Whether your child loves to play basketball, soccer, or even plans to try out for cheerleading, they need to get a sports physical. Why take chances when it comes to their health?

Visit Us for a Sports Physical

Here at UrgentMED, physical exams and sports physicals are one of our many areas of expertise. We have Primary Care Physicians or a PCP, on staff at all 15 of our convenient locations which are open every day. Our licensed, experienced, and compassionate doctors provide sports, school, and camp physic=als. You do not need an appointment for a physical, which typically takes about 30 minutes.

We’re Here for You

The affordable clinics that make up UrgentMED network provide fast and affordable emergency care. We’re the largest comprehensive urgent care network in Southern California. We look forward to helping you and your young athlete, stay on a healthy track.