If you dread getting sports activities, you are not alone. While they may seem simple to other people, moms and dads of future sports legends understand how demanding sports physicals can be. Fortunately, the nurse practitioner Humble, TX, at Calvary Urgent Care guides you through the requirements, making sports activities less dreadful.
What you should know about a sports physical
A sports physical is a pre-participation examination that determines whether an adult or child is physically healthy to engage in sporting activities safely. Additionally, if you wish to begin a sport or exercise routine, you should consult your provider, and sports physicals are an easier way to determine if it is safe. It is crucial to understand that sports physicals are not an alternative to annual physical exams because they focus on your child’s health history and how it may affect their ability to play a sport. Although a sports physical practically covers what happens during a physical, it is still important to schedule a separate annual exam.
What to expect during a sports physical
During your appointment at Calvary Urgent Care, your provider will check your child’s vitals, including blood pressure and pulse. The team may also document your weight and height because weight changes and growth spurts can place added stress on your bones, muscles, and joints. They then perform an exam in which your doctor determines whether you can see properly or require prescription lenses. The next quarter of the physical involves reviewing your medical history.
Before your appointment, compile a list of recent or past surgeries, illnesses, or conditions like chest pains and asthma. These details enable your doctor to detect problems that require activity restrictions, referrals, or further tests to prevent future complications. The final quarter involves a fitness check that includes a thorough examination of your abdomen, lungs, and heart to ensure that there are no physical limitations like a hernia or recent surgeries that may interfere with your ability to play.
Why everyone needs a sports physical
Most countries require every student-athlete to complete a sports physical before engaging in school-sanctioned sporting activities. However, non-student athletes participating in recreational or club sports may also need to pass a sports physical before being allowed into the field. Anyone can get a sports physical regardless of age, sex or occupation. While it is not a must for adults to get sports physicals before taking part in recreational sports, the Calvary Urgent Care team highly recommends it. These physicals also allow adults and kids to catch up with their providers and ensure that tests, health information, and immunizations are up to date.
In most schools, the coach may require your child’s sports physical before their first practice. However, the timing may also rely on the state, school district, or sport. Sports physicals are often valid for one year. But it is important to check with your child’s league or school coach since some states require the physicals before each sports season, even if they are in the same year.
Call the Calvary Urgent Care office to learn more about sports physicals or schedule an appointment online.
