When my kids wanted to join soccer, tennis and cross country, the last thing I remembered to do was to get them to the doctor for a sports physical. It’s such an easy thing to forget — but it’s so important.
In Illinois, sports physicals are required before your student-athlete starts each season. The Indiana High School Athletic Association states that between April 1 and the first practice, your child must have a pre-participation physical examination (which is a sports physical in parent language).
I checked in with Allison Foster, MD, a pediatrician at the University of Chicago Medicine Comer Children’s Hospital to find out why sports physicals are so important and what you need to know when you take your child in.
Should you take your child to the pediatrician for a sports physical?
It makes perfect sense to take your child to the pediatrician for sports physicals. As their primary care physician, your child’s pediatrician keeps your child’s medical records and health history. In fact, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends seeing the pediatrician for your child’s sports physical.
You can combine an annual school physical with a sports physical in many cases, says Dr. Foster.
What if you cannot get into the pediatrician before the sports physical is needed?
Your child’s pediatrician is always the best option for their care, but sometimes schedules don’t align. If that’s the case, check with your child’s pediatrician’s office to see if another doctor in the practice has availability that works for your schedule.
What should you expect at your child’s sports physical?
The basic goals of a child’s sports physical are to evaluate their general physical and psychological health. This includes evaluation for life-threatening or disabling conditions, such as the risk of sudden cardiac arrest, and other things that may increase the athlete’s risk of injury or illness.
Although rare, cardiac events do happen on the youth playing field, and we are all shocked when we hear about these tragedies. The AAP says that sports physicals should include questions about symptoms that could indicate heart problems.
“I discuss family health history with the patient, particularly as it relates to cardiovascular health,” says Dr. Foster, adding that she asks about family members with heart-related issues. It’s a good idea to anticipate these questions and be prepared to share relevant family history.
Questions to ask at the sports physical
I always like to arrive at the doctor’s office with a list of questions, but a sports physical seems so routine that this is an easy thing to forget. Take a minute to think about anything you’d like to ask about and arrive with your own list of questions.
Here are four starting points. Your questions may be different, and you may have many more:
- Think about the sport your child is joining and consider the injuries typical to that sport. Then ask about how your kid can prevent injury. Ask about anything special related to your child and their age — is there anything you should know?
- There’s evidence that female student-athletes are at higher risk for certain injuries, so ask about whether or not your daughter is at risk, and what symptoms to look for, just in case.
- Ask your child’s doctor what they recommend regarding concussion and immediate action after a head injury, no matter how seemingly small. And, if your child has previously experienced concussion, talk about what this means to your child’s future risk.
- Finally, talk with your child’s doctor about mental health factors related to the pressures of athletic performance. Find out what to look out for and encourage your child to talk with you and with their doctor about what they may be feeling.
Expertise brought to you by UChicago Medicine Comer Children’s Hospital. Learn more at ComerChildrens.org.
