Schedule Your Adolescent's Sports Physical for the Upcoming School Year Now

It seems like summer has only just begun, and already it’s time to start prepping for a new school year. At the top of your list should be getting your young athletes in for a sports physical.

Drs. Tina Floy and Trinidad Rojas at Wellness Pediatrics in Fairfax, Virginia, explain exactly what happens during a sports physical and help you schedule one before the first whistle. 

The X’s and O’s

A sports physical (some may refer to it as a preparticipation physical evaluation) is simply an evaluation we perform to clear your child for participation in sports. Most states and school districts require that children pass a physical before playing sports.

Sports physicals include two main components: medical history review and a physical exam.

Medical history review

You can complete most of the medical history review portion before meeting with us. Typically, your child’s school or team has a form or two that have you answer questions about your child’s and your family’s medical history. 

A medical history form may ask for information about:

• Medical problems that run in your family
• Medical problems your child has, including asthma or diabetes
• Previous hospitalizations or surgery
• Allergies
• Past injuries
• Past and current medications

We ask boys about any testicular pain or issues, and we ask girls about their menstrual cycles. We may also ask your child whether they’ve smoked, vaped, taken diet pills, and/or used performance-enhancing supplements.

Help your child answer all the questions honestly rather than giving an answer they think we want to hear. 

We open the floor for discussion if you have any concerns or if we notice something in your child’s medical history that may affect their ability to participate. You and your child can also ask other health, diet, and activity-related questions during their physical.

Physical examination

The physical examination is simple and usually includes recording height and weight, checking blood pressure and pulse, testing vision, evaluating heart and lung function, and examining muscles, bones, and joints. 

Is a sports physical really necessary?

For starters, sports physicals are almost always required, but even if they weren’t, we still would recommend your child come in for one if they’re involved in any type of physical activity. 

Sports physicals allow us to detect and deal with health problems that can interfere with performance or increase the likelihood of injury. 

Take asthma, for example. If your child has frequent asthma attacks, we can recommend certain medications or adjust their current prescription to make it easier for them to breathe when they run. 

It’s also a good time for your young athlete to get some training tips and recommended exercises to stay in tiptop shape and avoid injury. 

When and where is the best time to schedule a sports physical?

Some schools set up physicals on campus to make it easy for every student to get evaluated by a medical professional, but we think it’s best to come into our office. 

We know your child’s history and can make the best recommendations based on their current health status. 

We recommend that you schedule your child for a physical around six weeks before their season starts; that way, we can deal with any problems in plenty of time. We’d hate for your child to miss the kickoff because their physical was scheduled at the last minute. 

If there’s a problem, we can prescribe medication, recommend physical therapy, schedule a follow-up exam, and/or order tests to make sure your child is in shape to play as soon as possible. 

What if my child just got a sports physical?

Sports physicals are usually good for 12 months, though you should expect to fill out a form at the start of every season if your child is a multi-sport athlete. 

Remember that a regular physical/checkup isn’t the same as a sports physical. We ask different questions and look for different things during a sports physical, so set aside time to do both. 

If you need to book a sports physical, call our friendly staff at 571-350-0953 or use our online booking tool to check availability today.