Sports physicals ensure that your child can join a sports team safely. At Pediatric Associates at Ridge, a knowledgeable pediatrician Maria Hoffman-Guardia, MD,offer sports physicals in their McAllen, Texas, office. Experienced providers perform your child’s exam and promptly complete their school sports team paperwork so your child can discover the benefits of sports safely. Call the office or book your child’s sports physical online now.
Sports physicals are medical appointments that determine whether it’s safe for your child to play sports. This type of exam focuses on physical fitness and looks for underlying health issues that could interfere with their ability to play sports.
Sports physicals include a medical history review and a review of all your child’s current and past medications, supplements, and medical procedures. If your child uses any medical devices, they should have that equipment with them during their sports physical.
Your child has a physical exam, which usually records and evaluates:
Additionally, sports physicals help your child prepare for sports participation with education about safety equipment, proper physical form, and exercise recovery practices. Sports physicals may include additional information about eating a healthy diet and other ways to improve whole-person health.
Schools in Texas require pre-participation physical exams, also known as sports physicals, before children attend and participate in sports tryouts, practices, and games. Your child’s school provides a pre-participation form for your child’s medical care provider to complete.
Even if your child participates in a solo sport or non-school sport, physicals are still important because they can set your mind at ease regarding your child’s physical health and sports safety.
Typically, children need a new sports physical before the start of each sports season. Sports physicals differ from well-child exams and are usually performed separately.
Children who experience a sports injury that causes them to take time off their sport need another physical before they can resume sports.
In many cases, problems discovered during a sports physical are manageable and your child can still participate in their sport. For example, if your child has asthma triggered by exercise, they may need an adjusted treatment plan to prevent flare-ups.
The holistic pediatric care experts at Pediatric Associates at Ridge provide patient-focused sports physicals in a kid-friendly atmosphere. Schedule your child’s sports physical through online booking or call the office to make an appointment today.