Sports Physicals for Student Athletes
Many young athletes are required to complete a sports physical in order to participate. These exams are designed to keep your young athlete playing their best and to catch potentially life-threatening health problems that can be made worse by sports activity.
What many parents do not know is that an annual well-child visit includes a sports physical and the completion of any needed paperwork. When this exam is performed at the pediatrician’s office, it is valid for any forms needed for the next 12 months.
Scheduling Sports Physical with Well-Child Visit
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends asking your pediatrician to do your child’s sports physical when you schedule your child’s next routine well-child visit. This is more convenient than scheduling two appointments and has other advantages as well, such as:
- Your child’s medical records and health history will be complete and up to date.
- Pediatricians are trained to identify and treat medical and bone/joint problems commonly seen in children and adolescents who play sports or are physically active.
- Your pediatrician can ensure your child is caught up on immunizations and can discuss any concerns in a confidential setting.
In addition, while many insurances do not cover sports physicals for school, insurance does cover one annual well-child visit. Check with your insurer if you have any questions.
What a Pediatrician Covers During a Sports Physical
Your pediatrician will always consider the unique needs of each athlete. During your child’s sports physical, their provider will perform the following:
- Full history of diet, sleep and hygiene behaviors
- Full physical exam including heart and lung health
- Screening for any mental and behavioral health concerns
- Review sports history including previous concussions, head injuries, surgeries and other factors that could impact safety and high-performance play
A sports physical can identify and address areas of concern for each individual child. These may include:
Heart health: Sudden cardiac deaths are rare in athletes, but they are particularly devastating when they happen to a young athlete.
About 2,000 young, seemingly healthy people under age 25 in the United States die each year of sudden cardiac arrest, often with no obvious injury or medical reason that the patient or family knew about, says the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
A sports physical exam includes a list of questions about symptoms that may suggest problems with the heart. You should also report any past heart evaluations or history of high blood pressure in your child. Your child’s provider will also ask questions about any family history of heart problems or heart disease. While most athletes with concerning symptoms are cleared, it may be important to get an opinion from a pediatric cardiologist.
Mental health: Pressures – either external or internal – for participants in sports and the performing arts may lead to special mental health demands. These can include depression, anxiety, perfectionism, stress and attention deficits. Healthcare providers now ask questions about these sensitive and important issues in a private and safe setting to discover and recommend treatments.
Unique concerns of female athletes: Sports physicals can help with the unique health concerns of female athletes and performers. Called the female athlete triad, these concerns include menstrual issues, bone health and nutrition/calorie intake. Young female athletes also are at a higher risk for certain bone and joint injuries, including ACL tears of the knee.
Concussions and head injuries: A sports physical with your pediatrician can help determine the best treatment if your child is still having problems from a past concussion – including headaches, trouble concentrating, trouble sleeping and irritability. Your pediatrician also can determine if your child needs any adjustments with school and social activities. If your child has suffered from more than one concussion, no one is better than your pediatrician to guide you through a conversation about safety and long-term risks.
Unique concerns of disabled athletes: A careful sports physical can help select the most appropriate activities for children and teens with physical disabilities, such as lack of full vision, loss of use of arms or legs or muscle control problems, and reduce the chance for problems that can occur during exercise.
Schedule Ahead of Season
University Hospitals Rainbow Babies & Children’s recommends scheduling a well-child exam annually and at least eight weeks before the start of the sports season, which allows time to follow up on any concerns that might arise.