What to Expect During a Sports Physical

Everything you need to know about this essential element of your child’s active life

Sports keep children healthy and happy. It’s more than just fitness: sports help develop children’s social skills, teamwork and confidence as they grow into adulthood. Sports physicals conducted with a health care provider are a small but important part of ensuring your child’s enjoyment and well-being while they play.

If your child is new to the sports physical, you might be wondering what to expect. More seasoned parents might be wondering why this comes around at the start of each sports season. We’re walking you through the basics, letting parents and children alike understand how simple but important this process can be.

What is a Sports Physical?

A sports physical, otherwise known as preparticipation physical evaluation (PPE), is a medical evaluation with a health care professional to be sure it is physically safe for someone to participate in a sport. While they are often required for school sports, these appointments are a smart decision for anyone who might be engaging in a new sport.

What makes sports physicals so important is that they can help you find out about any problems that could arise and harm your performance or lead to you getting hurt. If your child is required to get a sports physical, it is a good way to ensure their safety and your comfort.

During this exam, your family medicine doctor or pediatrician might recommend exercises or offer training advice to help avoid injuries.

In the Exam Room

Anyone who is having a sports physical will be asked to answer questions involving medical history. This is your medical history and medical history within your family. That means you will be asked about past illnesses, surgeries and conditions, as well as the known medical history of your family. If possible, parents should help answer questions about both sides of your family. There is usually a history questionnaire accompanying your PPE.

During a sports physical, an athlete will have a physical examination that will be similar to a standard check-up. Your height and weight, vitals, and vision will all be checked, as well as your heart, lungs, abdomen, joints and more. You also might get asked about your diet, and if you are a girl or woman, you will be asked about your menstrual cycle. During the exam, it’s important to always be honest with your provider.

Once everything is checked out, your doctor will sign school forms, and your athlete will be ready to play. For some, there might be issues found within the exam. If that is the case, don’t worry—your provider will walk you through next steps, including any necessary follow-up exams, medicine, tests or treatments, including physical therapy. Your doctor will make it a priority to help get your child on the right track to wellness and get them back safely in the game as soon as possible.

Other Considerations

The longer you play sports (or the more sports you play), the more sports physicals you will have to get. Sports physicals typically last one year, but it’s worth checking with your child’s school—sometimes you will need one every sports season.
If you’re getting a sports physical, you might wonder if the regular physical for your child is still necessary. While some of the things that are checked look similar, a sports physical is specifically checking for your well-being regarding athletics. A regular physical exam is still required to ensure a well-rounded evaluation of your child’s health.
The time provided during sports physicals is a great opportunity to talk to your pediatrician about any physical issues or questions you might have about playing your sport. For example, if you are prone to certain injuries, your pediatrician might be able to give you tips or exercises that could help you avoid them in the future. It’s not just for your school—the exam should be for the athlete, too.

Our family medicine providers at Texas Tech Physicians are here to make sure that you and your child are prepared for the activities to come. Visit our Request an Appointment page or call your clinic to schedule your child’s sports physical today.