Sports are an excellent way for your child to get the physical exercise they need. They're also good for teaching life lessons, such as teamwork and coping with disappointment, among others. However, with that being said, sports teams through school or even ones from outside of school may require your child to have a physical first to ensure it's safe for him or her to play.
Fortunately, you may bring your little one into Sanchez Pediatrics, serving Port Deposit, Rising Sun, Essex, MD, and the nearby regions, to see one of our pediatricians and receive a sports physical.
So here's what you can expect during that visit.
Medical History
Part of the sports physical at one of our locations in Port Deposit, Rising Sun, or Essex will include the pediatrician gathering information about your child's medical history to evaluate for any chronic conditions or injuries that could prevent your child from playing safely.
This also gives the doctor insight to provide personalized recommendations for guiding your child on playing safely if he or she has any reason that could hinder performing to the best of his or her ability.
The medical history portion will also include a family history report portion, which consists of our practitioner finding out information about any issues your family had that could affect your little one. We then have insight and know what to look for to see if your child has it.
Height, Weight, Vitals, and Lungs
Next comes the physical exam part of the visit. During this part of the visit, our pediatrician will examine your child's height and weight. We'll evaluate his or her vitals and listen to the lungs. Based on this information, we can tell if your child may have any cardiovascular or pulmonary problems that could interfere with playing the sport safely.
Musculoskeletal Exam
Sports require your child to play on a court, field, etc. They're working those muscles and making the bones susceptible to injury. Therefore, a pediatrician will test their reflexes and assess for bone or muscle conditions to ensure your child can participate without sustaining an injury easily.
Question Portion
Especially if your child has any conditions, you may have questions for the pediatrician. At any time during the visit, feel free to ask questions. At the conclusion of the appointment, we'll also give you an opportunity to ask.
Sanchez Pediatrics, serving Port Deposit, Rising Sun, Essex, MD, and the surrounding neighborhoods, has pediatricians on staff who can provide your child with a sports physical. Book an appointment by calling our office at (410) 642-9172.