School & Sports Physicals: What You Need To Know

Here’s why a sports physical is not something your child should skip out on.

If your child is planning to play sports, it’s important to know whether they are healthy enough to participate in sports. Chances are good that your child or teen’s school requires that they get a physical before the season begins. If so, our Raleigh NC pediatricians at White Oak Pediatrics offer sports physicals all year round for children and teens who are ready to start a new athletic season. Is it the first time getting a sports physical? Here’s what you and your child should know.

Sports physicals in Raleigh prevent injuries

Your little athlete wants to be able to play sports as long as possible and our pediatricians want that as well. One of the reasons a sports physical is so important is that it allows our Raleigh NC doctors to be able to fully examine the muscles, joints, bones, and soft tissue of your child’s body. This gives them the chance to detect past injuries that you or your child may not even realize have happened.

By catching these problems early, we can often fix them so they don’t impact your child’s performance. Plus, our team can also show your child proper conditioning, stretching, and strengthening activities that they should do before playing to prevent injuries.

Sports physicals could detect health problems

You may think that if your child had asthma or a health problem that you would probably know about it; however, this isn’t always the case. Sure, your child may seem rather winded after playing in the backyard, but that’s normal right? Maybe not. Children who may seem winded or gassed easily after physical activity could have asthma. By coming in once a year for a Raleigh sports physical we can catch chronic health problems like heart disease or asthma and provide your child with the medication and specialized care they need to keep them healthy.

Sports physicals should be performed every year

Your child seems to be doing just fine and hasn’t sustained an injury, so that means they probably don’t need a sports physical this year, right? Wrong. Even if your child is the epitome of picture-perfect health, a sports physical is always a good idea. Your child’s school may even make it mandatory for all children to get one at least once a year before the training season begins.

Don’t wait until the last minute for your child’s sports physical. Schedule an appointment with our Raleigh NC doctors about 4-8 weeks before the season begins to ensure that your child gets the checkup they need before heading out on the field. Call White Oak Pediatrics at (919) 787-0266 to schedule your child’s visit.