School/Sports Physicals: What To Expect

If your child plans to join a specific sport in school they may be asked to undergo a sports physical, and some schools require it to participate in gym class as well. But schools also typically ask for a school physical prior to being enrolled for the new school year, and although school and sports physicals have specific goals they can be very similar and can even typically be performed during the same visit by your Pleasanton and San Ramon, CA, pediatrician of TRI-Valley Pediatrics.

School and Sports

The purpose of a sports physical is to determine whether your child is healthy enough to participate in a specific sport or physical activity in general. But know that even if a condition is found that can affect your child's ability to play, asthma is a common example, it doesn't mean that your child can't participate in their favorite sport. It can simply be that with the help of their pediatrician, they may need to take extra precautions to do so safely.

School physicals are more focused on your child's general health, and although they do not take the place of a traditional checkup, both examine many of the same issues. It's an opportunity for you and your child to ask questions about their health, discuss preventive care, and, importantly, make sure they are keeping up with their immunizations.

School and Sports Physicals in Pleasanton and San Ramon, CA

Sports, school, and your child's regular yearly physical are generally very similar experiences. They involve going over your child's vitals, their health history, along with a physical examination. Depending on the findings they may be referred to other experts if necessary, a sports physical may have more questions regarding past injuries and is typically more in-depth as it's concerned with physical ability, and a school and a regular checkup both will have an emphasis on being on track with immunizations.

Schedule your child's school and sports physicals today in Pleasanton and San Ramon, CA, with your local health experts of Tri-Valley Pediatrics by dialing (925) 460-8444 for the Pleasanton, CA, office and (925) 380-6230 for San Ramon, CA.