Some Things to Know About Sports Physical

A sports physical isn’t your regular physical or the well-child check-up you would bring your child or teen to. In our experience as a provider of pediatrics in Greenbelt, Maryland, we at Edge Pediatrics have seen how parents may sometimes confuse this to be a replacement for a regular physical—which isn’t so, primarily because a sports physical is more limited in scope.

This experience has made us realize that a briefer for sports physicals for parents will be helpful, especially for first-time parents. Here’s our very own from our Greenbelt pediatrics:

• What’s a sports physical?

  Formally called a preparticipation physical examination (PPE), a sports physical is an exam to know whether your child or teen is safe and ready to participate in a new sport or begin a new competitive season.

• What is it for?

  Missing or not undergoing a sports physical can lead to inconvenient and even dangerous situations. This is because potential problems that should have been recognized at the onset are not spotted. Thus, a sports physical is primarily done to screen for conditions and predispositions that may be life-threatening and pose potential problems to your child or teen.

  Secondly, these are done to:

  • Examine your child or teen’s general health
  • Serve as the entry point for your child or teen to officially enter the healthcare system
  • Provide your child or teen with opportunities to initiate discussions that involve their health
• When should I bring my child to a pediatrician in Maryland to get a sports physical?

  We advise at least 6 weeks before the start of practice. This allows us enough time for the following:

  • Further evaluation
  • Treatment of identified conditions if any
  • Rehabilitation of the affected body part/parts
• What does a sports physical consist of?

  There are two main parts to a sports physical—a medical history review and an actual physical exam.

  A medical history covers questions about your child or teen’s medical and family history. Some of the usual questions asked are on:

  • Conditions you have when you were younger and those you have now
  • Serious illnesses on your family
  • Prescriptions and over-the-counter medications you are on
  • Past hospitalizations and/or surgeries, if there are
  • Allergies
  • Past and present injuries
  • Difficulties when doing exercises

  On the other hand, their physical examination will consist of:

  • Recording their height and weight
  • Testing their vision
  • Taking their blood pressure and pulse
  • Checking their throat, lungs, heart, abdomen, nose, and ears
  • Evaluating their posture
  • Measuring their joint flexibility and strength
• What are the possible outcomes for a sports physical?

  Based on the findings of your pediatric group from your child or teen’s history and exam, here are the likely outcomes of their sports physical:

  • Cleared for participation without restriction
  • Cleared for participation but with a recommendation for further evaluation or treatment
  • Not cleared for participation in some or all sports, and possibly pending further evaluation