What is a Sports Physical Examination?
As the name implies, a sports physical is a physical examination administered by a medical professional to evaluate your readiness for a sport. The goal of getting a physical for sports is to determine if your body can handle the stress and tension of your activity of choice.
What to Expect during Your Sports Physical?
While each medical professional has their way of doing things, sports physicals are often very similar across providers. You should expect a combination of tests, questions, and hands-on manipulations during your examination. The goal is to check your strength, flexibility, endurance, and other aspects of your physical health.
Your examination will also include various questions about your family’s medical history to determine whether or not you are at risk for genetic conditions.
Here’s a complete checklist of what your sports physical will most likely entail.
- A measurement of your height and weight.
- Questions about your medical history and that of your family.
- Questions about how you’re currently feeling or if you have any pain, discomfort, or abnormal symptoms.
- A run-down of your diet.
- A list of any medications or prescription drugs you’re currently taking.
- Check your vitals, including blood pressure, pulse ox level, heart rate, respiration, and temperature.
- Vision and hearing tests.
- Examining your lungs, throat, belly, nose, and ears.
- Testing your strength, flexibility, ability, joints, posture, and reflexes.
- If you’re a female, you may be asked questions about your menstrual cycle.
Once again, while sports physicals can vary from provider to provider, this is a general list of things to expect during your examination. Depending on who requires your sports physical, you might need to provide additional paperwork, drug testing, and other information to the person performing your examination.
Why are Sports Physicals Important?
Sports physicals are essential to prevent injury.1 Depending on your condition and medical history, there is a chance you are more at risk of injury than others. You can avoid unnecessary injuries, including broken bones, respiratory arrest, strokes, strains, and more, with a routine sports physical.
For professional and collegiate athletes, sports physicals are a requirement. At the start of every new season or any time a player changes teams, their team will require a new physical to determine their fitness level. In most cases, their acceptance to the team depends on whether or not they pass their physical.
Where can I Get a Sports Physical?
Your team will provide a medical evaluation if you are a professional or collegiate athlete who needs a sports physical. If you are an adult seeking one for yourself or your child, you have many options. You can get a walk-in sports physical at an urgent care clinic, schedule one with your PCP or a concierge doctor, and get a CVS sports physical. CVS stands for cardiovascular system.
A walk-in or urgent care sports physical may not be as comprehensive as getting one from a PCP or concierge doctor. Getting an in-clinic sports physical from your PCP can be time-consuming between transit to and from the clinic and time spent in a waiting room.
A concierge doctor is one of the most convenient ways to get a sports physical for you or your children. In-home exams are especially advantageous if you have multiple children or other family members who need sports physicals and wellness checks.
Summary
Sports physicals are one of the best ways to gauge your physical fitness and prevent needless injuries that result from trying to do too much. They can help protect you and your children and better understand your overall health.
A concierge doctor is a fast and effective way to receive a sports physical. Concierge doctors will come to you and administer the physical exam in the comfort and safety of your home. They will perform exams on whoever needs them, making these appointments even more convenient and time efficient.
