Spring is here, and that means it’s time to kick off a new sports season. If you’re a parent, it also means it’s time to schedule a sports physical for your child to help them play safe and enjoy their best season ever.
At Nevada Pediatric Specialists, our team offers comprehensive physicals tuned to your child’s needs and their sport of choice. In this post, learn what a sports physical involves and why it’s so important to schedule one for your child before their first practice.
Having a sports physical isn’t just about ticking an item off a pre-season checklist: It’s about making sure your child is prepared for the demands of their sport while giving them the tools and guidance they need to stay safe and enjoy their sport to its fullest.
Specifically, your child’s physical includes evaluations aimed at ensuring they can safely participate in athletic activities based on their health and physical development. Children grow and change quickly, and what was true last season may not be the same this year. Scheduling a sports physical before each new season ensures we identify any new concerns and manage them before play begins.
Sports physicals can also help uncover issues that might otherwise go unnoticed, like heart murmurs or arrhythmias, breathing problems, joint instability, or vision issues. Identifying these concerns early allows plenty of time for appropriate treatment, monitoring, or activity modifications that help prevent injury or other serious complications.
During your child’s visit, we discuss simple steps your child can take to prevent injuries and take a more proactive role in their health and wellness. We also help kids understand the importance of proper hydration, good nutrition, regular sleep, and warmup activities prior to play or practice. These simple habits protect your child during sports and other activities while also laying the groundwork for a healthy future.
Like an annual physical, a sports physical typically begins with a review of your child’s medical history. We review past injuries and illnesses, along with your family medical history and any chronic issues your child may be facing, like asthma.
Next, we evaluate your child’s overall wellness, taking their weight and height and checking their vital signs, including their blood pressure and their heart activity. We listen to their lungs and check their posture, joint function, and strength.
We also ask about your child’s sport of choice, performing additional evaluations based on the sports unique requirements — for instance, paying close attention to arm strength and range of motion for sports like baseball or tennis.
Depending on your child’s needs, we may recommend additional testing, like a cardiac evaluation, breathing tests for asthma, or blood tests. On-site lab testing at Nevada Pediatric Specialists makes these evaluations simple and convenient.
And finally, we allow plenty of time for kids and parents to ask questions and for our team to provide education and guidance aimed at preventing injuries and keeping your child safe and healthy.
Sports physicals are designed to support your child’s health, safety, and success during all sorts of athletic activities, allowing them to focus their attention on enjoying the game. To schedule your child’s exam, book an appointment online or over the phone with the team at Nevada Pediatric Specialists in Henderson and Las Vegas, Nevada, today.
