Sports Physicals Specialist

What are sports physicals?

Sports physicals are one of the health and wellness services available at Pediatric Practitioners of Oklahoma. Physical activity is essential for overall health and well-being.

Participation in an organized sport is a great way for children and teens to get the exercise they need to improve their health. Most organizations that offer sports for kids and teens require a sports physical before allowing your child to participate in the activity. 

Focusing on health promotion, Pediatric Practitioners of Oklahoma encourages children and teens to engage in regular exercise and provides sports physicals to support these efforts. 

Why are sports physicals needed?

Sports physicals assess your child’s overall health and fitness to make sure it’s safe for them to participate in the physical activity. They’re important because it helps identify health problems that may affect your child’s ability to participate in sports. 

Identifying health problems ensures your child gets the medical care or activity modifications they need so they can safely participate in their chosen sport and reduce their risk of injury. 

When performing a sports physical, the providers at Pediatric Practitioners of Oklahoma take into consideration your child’s overall health and fitness levels and the type of sport they want to play.

What happens during sports physicals?

Sports physicals at Pediatric Practitioners of Oklahoma are comprehensive evaluations of your child’s health and well-being. During the exam, your provider reviews your child’s medical history as well as the types of physical activities they currently engage in. 

Your provider performs a physical exam and may run various tests to assess their overall health and fitness. Testing may include a pulmonary function test to assess lung health, vision and hearing test, assessment of joint movement, and evaluation of muscle strength and balance.

After your child’s sports physical, your provider at Pediatric Practitioners of Oklahoma discusses their findings with you. They also provide activity guidelines specific to your child’s health and fitness needs that may reduce their risk of getting hurt when playing their chosen sport. They also complete any paperwork required by the sports program. 

Children and teens need sports physicals before starting an organized sport to assess whether it is safe for them to play and help prevent injury. Call Pediatric Practitioners of Oklahoma, to schedule a sports physical for your child online today.