Why Does My Kid Need a Sports Physical?

Children are more inactive than ever, according to a survey held by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). In it, over 11,000 kids between grades 9-12 were surveyed, and they discovered that only 12.37% participated in 20 minutes of vigorous physical activity more than three times a week. For children, physical activity is important to overall health, and helps to set up the habits they have as adults regarding exercise and fitness. So, whether your child is part of a sports team or just needs to get out more, a sports physical can be a helpful method of determining their health. Let’s look into the things that go into a sports physical, the reasons why your child should get one, and how often.

Parents of children in the Tinley Park, Rockford, Olympia Fields, Illinois, or the Munster, Indiana areas who need to check on their health can find help with the team of doctors at Health Solutions. We offer a variety of medical and holistic treatments for the whole family, focusing on treating acute and chronic conditions.

What goes into a sports physical?

Your child’s sports physical is a combination of getting a comprehensive medical history and physical exam, in part to gauge whether your child can engage in a sport or getting a general picture of their health. Here’s what you can expect:

Medical history

This part is all about gathering important information about things like serious illnesses in your family, your child’s past or current illnesses, any history of hospitalization or surgeries, prior injuries, allergies, problems your child may have while exercising, and current medications.

Physical exam

Here we gather information like your child’s height, weight, pulse, blood pressure, vision, posture, strength, flexibility, and the condition of their heart, lungs, abdomen, ears, nose, and throat.

Unique exams may also be necessary to accommodate the needs of female athletes (called the female athlete triad) or disabled athletes.

Why does your child need one?

For children looking to get into a sport in a given school year, learning the state of their health will inform you of any problems that would complicate their ability to participate, or any potential danger they may face while performing. This practice varies from state to state, but in many cases your child may start getting these physicals as early as the seventh grade. Even if they don’t participate in sports, if you’re concerned about their health, a sports physical can tell you a lot about how they’re doing, and whether or not they have a condition that requires treatment.

How often should they get them?

Unless your child is recovering from an injury, these physicals can be done annually, about six to eight weeks before school starts to address any issues in follow-ups before your child starts in a sport. It’s also important to know that a sports physical shouldn’t replace a regular annual exam. Your child’s annual exam is designed more for their overall health, and will likely find problems a sports physical may miss.

Knowing what problems your child may be dealing with can help determine what treatments or lifestyle changes they may need to improve. It’s necessary for kids looking to play sports, but any kid can benefit. If you think your child needs a sports physical, make an appointment with the medical team at Health Solutions today.