Dr Madison discusses Sports Physicals

The American Academy of Pediatrics encourages all children to get an annual sports physical whether or not a child is required to have one to participate on a team or extracurricular activity. Regular checkups are important for your child’s overall health and well-being.

Getting a physical is an opportunity to address exercise-specific issues, including injuries, nutrition, training and exercise programs. Because sports physicals are specifically checking whether a child is healthy enough to play sports, healthcare providers may catch something would have been missed, such as a neurological issue, muscle or joint injury, or hernias or hypertension.

Most teens go to their regular family doctor to get a sports physical, since their doctor knows them and their health history the best. This is why it’s important to find a family-centered medical home that can provide care continuously over a long period of time so that as your child ages and develops, their care will be consistent.