What to Expect During Sports Physicals

Find out what your little athlete can expect from their next sports physical. 

When it comes to the sports season, our Palm Beach Gardens, FL, pediatricians want all kids to play it safe, which also means all little MVPs need an annual sports physical. Sure, a sports physical may seem simple enough and possibly too simple, but for our team of pediatricians, these sports physicals ensure your child’s health and wellbeing year after year.

What Is a Sports Physical?

Also referred to as a pre-participation physical examination (PPE), a sports physical ensures that your child is healthy enough to participate in sports. Whether they are starting a new season or new exercise regimen, our Palm Beach Gardens, FL, pediatricians want to make sure that your child is healthy and ready—and a sports physical is the easiest way to check their health history and its impact on your child’s ability to play sports.

What Goes Into Getting a Sports Physical?

There are four main components to getting a sports physical,

1. You’ll have your vitals taken by a nurse, measuring everything from your child’s pulse and blood pressure to their height and weight.
2. We will perform a quick eye exam to ensure their vision hasn’t changed.
3. We’ll go through your child’s detailed medical history to learn more about past illnesses, injuries, surgeries and hospitalizations that could impact your child’s ability to play sports.
4. Last, we will perform a comprehensive physical exam assessing everything from heart, lung and digestive function to reflexes and the health of the joints and musculoskeletal system. We will also evaluate muscle strength, flexibility and the health of the joints.

When Should I Schedule a Sports Physical?

In Florida, most schools require children to have a sports physical before participating in any sports. Since these physicals can book up quickly by the end of the summer, our Palm Beach Gardens, FL, team recommends scheduling your child’s sports physical far enough in advance, so they aren’t sitting on the sidelines.

We recommend calling us at the beginning of the summer to schedule your child’s next school physical, or you can do it at your child’s next routine checkup (whichever comes first!). A sports physical is typically valid for one calendar year, so ensure your child gets one every year.

Need to schedule your child’s next sports physical before the school year begins? Children's Physicians provides sports physicals to kids in and around Palm Beach Gardens, Jupiter and Palm City, FL. Call (561) 626-4000, (561) 743-9000 or (772) 219-4444 today.