Most children need to get their school physicals before the start of their school year. In addition, if they are a part of the school’s sports team, you can schedule their school and sports physicals in one appointment. The purpose is to ensure your child stays healthy throughout the school year. You can visit healthcare clinics in Nashville for your child’s school and sports year.
What is School & Sports Physical?
School Physicals focuses on assessing the overall health of students. It ensures that your child is updated on their vaccines. In addition, it helps identify chronic medical conditions that could affect your child's growth and development. Further, it helps diagnose any medical condition, such as allergies or asthma, that must be monitored when the children are at school.
On the other hand, sports physical focus on identifying health issues that might cause severe concerns if the child participates in their preferred sports. Further, it allows discussions concerning the possibility of injuries and how to prevent them.
What is included in School & Sports Physicals?
During your child’s school & sports physicals, their physician will check their medical history and immunization status and perform a physical examination.
Medical history
Your physician will check your child’s medical history. They might enquire about the following aspects concerning your child’s health.
- Whether your child has previous surgeries or hospitalizations
- Whether your child experiences any past or recurring injuries
- Whether your child is diagnosed with any health concerns in younger years, such as asthma, allergy, diabetes, etc
- Whether any primary family members suffer from any serious illnesses
- The current medications of your child
- Whether the child has ever passed out, experience dizziness, chest discomfort or pain, breathing issues, etc
In addition, physicians may discuss the following for sports physicals in teens.
- For teen girls – Physicians may enquire about their menstrual history and experience of severe menstrual pain or heavy bleeding.
- For teen boys – Physicians may enquire whether they experience any testicle pain or check for signs of tumors or hernia. In addition, physicians might ask them to cough while they check their scrotum. It is a necessary exam performed to ensure that teen boys are healthy.
These tests act as preventive measures; hence, you must answer your physicians honestly to ensure the child is healthy and prepared for their school year.
Immunization status
During these physicals, your physicians will check whether your child is updated on their immunizations. It is crucial to provide your child protection against contagious diseases.
Physical Examination
During school and sports physicals, your pediatrician will perform a comprehensive physical checkup of your child. It includes
- Recording height & weight
- Measuring blood pressure
- Checking pulse
- Checking lungs, heart, abdomen
- Checking eyes, ears, skin, nose, mouth, throat
- Test your vision & hearing
- Determining a child's physical development with respect to their age group
- Checking their motor development and reflexes
Hence, at the start of every school year, visit medical clinics in Nashville, TN, for school & sports physicals.
School physicals assess your child’s overall health to address various health concerns to ensure a healthy school year. On the other hand, sports physicals help diagnose issues that might affect your child's athletic performance and increase the risk of injury. For instance, if your child has allergies, your doctor can suggest ways to avoid triggers or prescribe medications for emergencies. Similarly, if they have asthma, your doctor can prescribe medications to help them breathe easily when exercising, practicing, or training. Besides, your doctor may recommend exercises to prevent injuries.
School and sports physicals are valid for a year. However, if your child develops new symptoms or suffers any injury, they may need to visit their doctor before they can play for your school sports team.