Sports Physical Exam: A Complete Guide

Sports activities have many physical, social, and emotional benefits. It promotes fitness in children, increases self-esteem, and helps kids learn about leadership and teamwork. As parents, we want to ensure our child is in optimal health to enjoy sports activities safely.

What Is A Sports Physical?

Pre-participation Physical Examination, also known as a sports physical, determines a child’s ability to participate in sports safely. It is a prerequisite to joining any sport at educational institutes and athletic leagues. It’s also necessary for students to participate in sports across Texas. If your child comes across this requirement, you can trust the team of pediatricians at A Thru Z Pediatrics to examine your child for a safe experience in any sport. Our expert pediatricians treat our young patients with utmost care and compassion.

What Provisions We Expect From You:

When you bring your child to visit our doctors; for a sports physical, we’ll need from you your child’s updated medical records, consisting of:

Current Immunizations
A list of all known allergies
A list of all or any prescription medications
Any recent medical issues

Our pediatricians start with a verbal walk-through of your child’s medical history, followed by a detailed physical evaluation.

Validity Of Sports Physicals

Sports physicals are valid for one calendar year only. However, it’s best to consult your child’s school or sports league, as some schools require a sports physical before every sports season. That means you might need to get your child’s sports physical more than once a year.

Chances Of Failing a Sports Physical

Suppose pediatricians at A Thru Z Pediatrics consider your child unfit to participate in a sports activity due to medical reasons such as hernia, heart murmur, asthma, or a recent concussion. In that case, they will not pass the evaluation. As Pediatricians, the well-being of your child is the top priority. If your child fails the sports physical, parents can work with the pediatrician to ensure the child gets care and treatments to become fit for sports activities. Our expert pediatricians at A Thru Z Pediatrics also offer counseling regarding ways your young athlete is prone to injuries and guide you to exercises that can help your child avoid any unpleasant issues in the future. Visit our website or schedule an appointment with our expert pediatrician Stone Oaks, San Antonio, for your child’s sports physical.

This article is general information, not medical advice. If you have concerns about your child's health, call your A thru Z Pediatrics office.