Physical Exams And Sports Physicals

Is a school physical the same as a routine exam?

Many of the evaluations your child goes through during a required school physical are the same as routine physicals. School physicals sometimes require your child to go through additional screenings, or in some cases, even fewer.

In general, most school physicals include:

• A thorough review of your child’s medical history
• Updates on vaccines and immunizations
• A physical examination
• Prescription medication updates
• Height and weight analysis
• Overall health check
• Laboratory blood or urine screenings

The team at Pediatrics of Southwest Houston completes all of your child’s necessary medical paperwork and sends it back to the school.

Will my child need vaccines to pass their school physical?

Likely, yes. Most schools require that your child is updated on certain vaccinations and immunizations before starting school. These may include booster shots, new vaccines, or flu shots.

The pediatricians at Pediatrics of Southwest Houston are also firm believers in vaccinating all children based on the recommendations by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as well as the American Academy of Pediatrics.

What should my child expect during a sports physical?

A sports physical isn’t much different than a routine physical or school physical.

If your child has already been participating in sports, your pediatrician spends some time looking for warning signs of injury or concussion. If your child is just getting started, your physician makes sure your child is in good health and can fully participate in the sport.

Either way, both you and your child are given counseling on preventing problems while playing sports. This often includes information about:

• Proper stretching and warming up
• The importance of cooling down
• How to prevent concussions
• Selecting gear to prevent injury

How early do I need to schedule a sports physical?

Your child’s coach will let you know when sports physicals have to be completed. If your child is up to date on his annual well exam we are often able to complete the forms for you (make sure you fill out the parent questionnaire before bringing it to the office). If it has been many months or your child has had injuries since the last exam then it is best to schedule a new appointment.

Even though a sports physical is a quick, straight forward exam, please don’t wait until the last second to get it done. If your child needs additional screenings, treatments, or follow-up visits, make sure you get that taken care of before the season starts.