What Happens During a Sports Physical?



With school sports’ season rapidly approaching, it is time to start turning in sports physical forms. All schools require that your child has a sports physical performed before they can participate in school sports. If this is your child’s first time getting a sports physical, you may wonder what happens during the process. 

What Is a Sports Physical 

A sports physical exam is often referred to as a Pre-participation Physical Examination (PPE). This exam will help decide whether or not your child is healthy and safe enough to take part in a particular sport. A sports physical is very important because it will help detect any health problems that could disrupt your child’s participation in a sport. If your child has a condition and wants to play football, the doctor may prescribe a different medication or give suggestions that can help them have an easier time participating. 

Medical History Check

Your sports physical form will ask a variety of questions for you to fill out. These questions will ask if your child is taking any medications (over-the-counter medications, herbal supplements, or prescription medication), if your child has been previously hospitalized, had surgery, has or has had any illnesses (such as asthma or diabetes), and if they have any allergies. The form will also ask about past injuries and your family’s history of illnesses. Finally, you will need to answer if your child has ever passed out, felt dizzy, had trouble breathing, or had chest pain during exercise. The purpose of this form is to help determine if your child has any sort of condition. Many doctors consider this part of the sports physical exam to be the most important. 

Sports Physical Exam 

This part of the exam is done by the doctor. The doctor will record the height and weight of your child, take their blood pressure and pulse, test their vision, check their flexibility, strength, joints, and posture, and finally, check the throat, nose, lungs, ears, abdomen, and heart. Depending on the gender and age of your child, different questions will be asked. Some disorders, such as female athlete triad (which involves poor nutrition and weak bones) involve the absence of a period. The doctor will also ask questions about the use of steroids, weight-loss supplements, dietary supplements, alcohol, and drugs, as these can affect the health of your child. 

What Happens If Your Child Does Not Pass a Sports Physical?

If a doctor deems that your child is not fit to participate in sports, all hope is not lost. Your child may need to see a specialist about their health issue. Just because your child needs a specialist does not mean that their sports career is over. A specialist could help figure out what is going on to make it more difficult for your child to take part in sports. For example, your child may be running incorrectly or overworking their muscles. Your child could start receiving treatment by the specialist before a particular sport starts, allowing them to participate when the time comes. 

 

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