School’s Starting Soon: Why Kids Need School and Sports Physicals

It happened again this year. The beginning of school crept up on us and all of a sudden, the kids need shoes and clothes and school supplies and … physicals?

If your child is playing a sport this school year, they’re required to have a physical before they can participate, and depending on where you live, some states require physicals before students can start the year in the classroom as well.

With 72.5 million kids in the United States and about 27 million of them playing sports, these visits to the doctor play an important role in the health of American youth.

At Phillips Family Medical, board-certified family nurse practitioner Pamela Phillips and our team conduct many of these physicals each year. Based on our experience, here’s why we think they’re important.

What is a school or sports physical?

A sports physical or a school physical (sometimes called a well-child exam) is a preventive screening designed to ensure your child is physically and mentally ready to participate in their chosen sport and in school. 

The idea is to evaluate their health and development while also looking for any early signs of issues or any areas that need attention. 

A school physical is a thorough exam. We’ll review your child’s medical history and check their vital signs, growth and development, cardiovascular function, musculoskeletal system, vision, hearing, and mental well-being. We’ll also make sure they’re up to date on their immunizations.

A sports physical includes these components, but also assesses your child’s strength, flexibility, and balance, to make sure they can safely compete in their sport. We’ll also check for any previous injuries and make sure they have healed appropriately.

What benefits do they provide?

School and sports physicals provide benefits for the child, parents, teachers, coaches, and administrators. 

First, this kind of preventive health care is absolutely important for your child’s health. These visits enable us to diagnose and treat any health issues (or potential issues) early, before the problem gets worse and causes a crisis (asthma and diabetes are two good examples of this). 

For athletes, a sports physical can help prevent injuries as well by making sure your child is fit and ready to participate in their sport. We can identify any risk factors for injury, point out areas where they may need to build strength, and give them pointers on how to condition safely. We’ll make sure they’re ready to play without unnecessary risk.