Certain medical professionals are approved to perform sports physicals on children and teenagers. These include medical doctors, chiropractic doctors, physician assistants and registered nurses. They all have the training and knowledge to ensure that athletes are not at risk during sports. If you are wondering why your child needs one of these physicals, keep reading to learn more.
Many parents wonder why their children need to have a sports physical. This is especially true when the children have already undergone an annual physical given by their primary care provider. An annual physical is given to children to make sure that they are overall healthy. A sports physical is given to children to make sure that they are in good enough shape to take part in sports without complication. Every parent wants their children to be safe when playing sports. For this reason, every child needs to have a sports physical performed before participating.
According to American Family Physician, approximately 30 million athletes younger than 18 years old receive medical clearance to play sports every year. Make sure your child is included in this statistic to ensure that they are safe during their sport.
Generally speaking, when a child undergoes a sports physical, they are approved to play in their sport for one calendar year. This can cover all sports during the school year. Since there are a few states that make it necessary for children to undergo a sports physical before each season of sports, parents need to check with the school to see the exact requirements.
Two different parts make up a sports physical. The first part requires parents to answer questions about their child’s medical history. A medical professional will carefully go through the answers to determine whether any patterns exist that could potentially lead to a child being injured when playing sports. The answers will also help to determine whether any underlying health conditions could hinder your child’s ability to participate.
The second part requires the child to undergo a physical examination. A medical professional will check the child’s height and weight, take their blood pressure and listen to their heart and lungs. They will also examine their ears, nose and throat, test their vision, examine their posture and check their joints for overall strength and flexibility.
If everything is good to go, the medical staff will sign the relevant paperwork and clear the child to play. Should something be of concern, the physician may ask for the child to undergo testing such as an electrocardiogram.
Does your child need a sports physical to participate in their favorite sport? If so, you can visit our urgent care center to get your child cleared to play. Instead of scheduling a visit with your family doctor, you can walk into our clinic at any time to get a physical.
Call us today at (703) 945-1942 for more information from Millennium Medical Care Woodbridge.
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