
What is a sports physical?

What is the difference between a sports physical and a physical exam?
The primary difference between a sports physical and annual physical is the scope of the exam. A regular physical, or annual physical or well child exam, looks at many of the same things that a sports physical does. In addition to those areas of examination, the overall well-being will be looked at as well. Depending on the age of the child, things such as immunization records, behavioral and cognitive development, nutrition and sleep habits will be looked at as well. If the doctor sees a potential concern in any of these areas, preventative measures may be taken. There is also a good chance blood will be drawn for lab work to look deeper into the health of the individual. You should already know that an annual physical is a great way for you to ensure you are on the right track or to see if any adjustments to your lifestyle need to be made. And while sports physicals are a good indicator of whether or not your child is physically fit enough to safely play a given sport, they should also get annual exams to be sure that they are in good health overall. Luckily, although these types of physicals focus on different aspects, they can be combined into one physical, which many parents prefer. Now that you know the difference between these two types of physicals, how do you know if you need one, or when you need one.Does my child need a sports physical?

Leave a Reply