Almost every school-aged athlete needs a sports physical before they can hit the field, court, or track. The primary care providers at Arundel Medical Group, Inc., provide sports physicals for children and teenagers at their facility in Glen Burnie, Maryland. To ensure your loved one has a safe and healthy season, call the office or request a sports physical appointment online today. They also accept same day walk-ins.
A sports physical is sometimes called a preparticipation physical examination. This exam determines whether it’s safe for your child to participate in a particular sport. Most states require children and teens to have a sports physical before they can join a team or begin a new sports season.
Even if your child doesn’t play a school sport, many recreational and club leagues require physicals as well. The team at Arundel Medical Group provides sports physicals for pediatric patients.
Sports physicals can identify health problems that may worsen or interfere with sports activities. For example, if your child has asthma and wants to play a sport that requires a lot of running, the team at Arundel Medical Group may prescribe a different type of inhaler or adjust the dosage.
Your physician may also advise the aspiring athlete on steps they can take to prevent injuries, such as stretching and strengthening exercises.
First, your Arundel Medical Group provider reviews your child’s medical history. This includes:
The medical history is one of the most important parts of a sports physical, so it’s important to answer the questions thoroughly. Then, your physician performs a complete physical exam, which may include sports-specific assessments like checking joint strength and flexibility.
For female athletes who have already gone through puberty, your provider may ask questions about diet and menstrual cycle. This is to ensure she doesn’t have a common condition known as the female athlete triad, which includes disordered eating, absent or infrequent periods, and low bone density.
No. A sports physical isn’t a substitute for a standard physical exam. Because a sports physical focuses on athletic issues, it may not be as comprehensive as a regular physical. The family medicine physicians at Arundel Medical Group provide separate standard physical exams to patients of all ages.
To schedule your sports physical, call Arundel Medical Group, Inc. today, or request an appointment online today.
/assets/docs/340615.png)