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Sports Physicals

Sports Physicals in Haywood County, NC

When your child is interested in playing sports, you want to make sure that they are prepared. This doesn’t just mean that they have all the gear that they might need, but that their body is physically well and can handle the stress of a sport. The best way to do this is by bringing your child to their pediatrician for a sports physical. This helps decrease the risk of your child dealing with an injury and can help detect any undiagnosed issues that your child might be dealing with.

What is a Sports Physical?

A sports physical, also referred to by some schools as a pre-participation physical examination (PPE), is a comprehensive health exam performed by our team of pediatricians to make sure that your child is healthy enough to play sports. Your child’s sports physical is separate from their annual examination and won’t take the place of their yearly wellness checkup.

As a parent, you want to make sure that your child stays healthy and safe no matter what they might be doing. When your child wants to participate in a sport, you want to make sure that they are protected and as safe as possible from harm. By bringing your child in for a sports physical, you are taking preventive measures to ensure that your child doesn’t have serious illnesses or is prone to injury.

A sports physical also helps your child’s pediatrician note any severe changes in their health. They’ll check every area of your child’s body to make sure that everything is functioning as it should. This includes checking your child’s ears, nose, throat, lungs, lymph nodes, and abdominal area. They can also check the reflex time and your child’s overall health.

During a sports physical, you can also ensure that your child is up to date on their immunizations. You can also take this time to voice any concerns that you may have and ask any questions you have about your child’s well-being.

The Importance of Sports Physicals For Your Child

Detecting health problems through these physical examinations doesn’t necessarily mean that you can’t play sports; however, it’s important to identify health issues early on in your child so that we can provide them with medication, lifestyle changes and even modifications to their current activities to prevent serious health complications.

For example, a child with asthma may be prescribed both a daily and a rescue inhaler to help control their symptoms throughout the day, even when playing sports. By providing your child with the medications and treatment they need now, we can prevent serious complications from happening.

Since your child’s health can change dramatically in just one year, it’s important that you bring your child into our office for their sports physical every year, approximately 4-6 weeks before the start of the school year.

Keep your child healthy during their favorite sports. Contact your pediatrician at Haywood Pediatrics to learn more about sports physicals and how they protect your child. Call for more information and to schedule an appointment today at (828) 452-2211.

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